The Commandment of Love

To my wife

For Phaedrus, in the Apology, love inspires or encourages one to do and/or become the best they can in everything. For him, the reason for love to inspire or encourage in this way is, that the lover would feel most ashamed when seen by his beloved as not being their best and/or not doing their best. I think, this is a very ideal - as opposed to being realistic - conception of love as having the power to inspire or encourage someone. In reality, some of those who love someone does not even feel ashamed at the sight of their beloved, when they are not at their best. In contrast, some people even feel comfortable and open to show their imperfections and flaws to the ones they love. Nevertheless, I personally believe that love inspires or encourages one to become or do their best. But, not of the feeling of shame towards the beloved - as mentioned by Phaedrus. Instead, of the call or demand of love itself. Love inspires or encourages one not of personal feelings, but, of what love is - love is a call or command to do and/or become one's best. 

I am a married man - married to Marie Antoinette Sioson. And I love my wife so much. I, personally, attest to the meaning of love that I claim above. That love is a call or command todo and/or become one's best. I still remember what a waiter told me during the reception of my wedding. The waiter told me this: "welcome to a life full of problems." At that time, I was still very optimistic about marriage. I thought to myself that my married life would not be like what the waiter told me about. But, here I am in my 2nd year of being married, realizing the truth of the welcoming of a waiter. That married life is surely full of problems. The marital problems that I encountered are numerous that I cannot enumerate them in one sitting. However, I will not elaborate them here. Instead, I will highlight the meaning of love in my married life. 

For me, it is in the presence of problems where the call or command of love sounds the loudest. For example, we had a fight, - which we constantly have - love calls me to become and/or do my best. During or after a fight, love calls me or commands me to control my temper despite the heated argument. Love commands me to do the effort and sacrifice to understand my wife despite the impossibility. Love commands me to swallow my pride and immediately ask for forgiveness - even though I am the one at fault. Love commands me to fix every single problem we have and will have. Love commands me to do and become my best. Not for my own sake, but for my beloved's sake - for my wife. Love commands me to become the best person for my wife - for her to be happy. That is the commandment of love.

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