At least that’s what I imagined when I said, “I DO.”  But somewhere after “I DO,” the romance and connection can get a bit sparse.  If not, careful It can just disappear, leaving us feeling like we may have “made a mistake” or “we have fallen out of love.”

Love does not happen by accident.  Our wedding day does not translate to happily ever after.  No, that’s just the beginning of the journey.  We have the rest of our lives to make our relationship full of rich romance, unshakable understanding while remaining best friends. 

But how? How do we continue to grow together in a fast-paced culture that has endless demands or obligations that take from your little time?

The answer is in work. I was reflecting on the lyrics to one of my favorite songs.

“Love your curves and all your edges.

All your perfect imperfections

Give your all to me

I’ll give my all to you. 

You’re my end and my beginning. 

Even when I lose, I’m winning…” “All of Me”-John Legend

I remember wanting to be that woman to a man.  I dreamt of the day that someone would confess this type of love to me.  But as you read the lyrics, He says something couples often forget. 

“Give your all to me.

I’ll give my all to you.” – John Legend.

You give your all, and he will reciprocate. If we want to be loved fiercely and passionately,  we need to be willing to love the same.  If we desire romance, we need to show the same. In other words, we need to work at it daily even when we don’t “feel” it.

A healthy, loving marriage does not stand on the love you shared when you said, “I do.”  It remains standing upon the love and care you continually put into it, now and forever. Marriage is work.  Never stop working on it, and the love will continue to grow.