A painful gift of LOVE…

This story was told to me by one of my friends, who awakened   me to what the quest of Love is all about.

Faith was a godly woman, who carried herself well, and who was gifted with exceptional intelligence.  Faith was a missionary and loved her apostolic work, doing whatever she could to make someone's life easier.

During her apostolic trip, she ran into her childhood sweetheart, whom she hadn't seen for a very long time.  In the days ahead, he admired her as he would pass by, her smile making his heart flutter inside. Her eyes could melt any man's heart and his heart melted.  Anytime she was in a room his eyes would smile, whether it be the church, the hallway, the office, or the parking lot. 

Although he conscientiously tried to avoid prolonged glances at Faith, he caught himself gazing at her, as she similarly gazed at him.  They exchanged addresses and began writing to each other. It was easier to flirt and express their feelings in writing.  They wrote each other constantly, telling each other they could not stop thinking about one another.  They were falling in love again, just as they had in years past.

But they were not free anymore.  She was married, committed to her husband and family; he was a parish priest, committed to God.

They prayed to God to change the way they felt.  These feelings were not appropriate for a committed Christian wife and a man of God.  God did not change the way they felt, but He gave them the strength they needed to not succumb to their lustful feelings.  It was an ironic pun that they must remain faithful. Even though it was as painful as plunging daggers through their own hearts, they had to sacrifice the love they had for each other in favor of a greater love to God.

We, as friends of both of them, never questioned the trouble they both were going through. We could see the hardship they had, just not being near each other. It must be painful to let such a yearning go unfulfilled.  At times we could see the look in their eyes, and knew that they are agonizing over their feelings.

 But they could not act on their feelings. She would endanger the whole congregation and he would destroy the lives of her family. They fell in love again, but they knew it was wrong. They had to let it go.

Her apostolic trip was coming to an end. It was so painful, knowing they could never be together in this lifetime. So like precious jewels, they treasured every brief interaction they had. He told her, "Everything about you, my dear, I love and I will always love.  I didn't expect or seek any of this.  It came fast and I knew you had taken control of my heart.  You're the woman I would love to grow old with! "

That day they both gave the simple pure gift they didn't know they are giving – A Sacrifice of Love…  They both believed Christ defined true love when He said that no one has greater love than when one gives his life for his friends. They made a vow that they would always love each other, but in a different way, and they would remain good friends.

I just wanted to share this to all. We can never be truly happy with something that is wrong and we will always be happy with something that is right.  And if a situation calls for us to choose what is right over to what will make us happy, surely happiness will unexpectedly come along in a thousand folds.