Is Your Love Genuine Or Fake?
“Buy Rolex. $20 only.”
A moustached guy offered it to me while walking in a busy street.
Wow. Didn’t Rolex watches sell at $5000 each?
Because he thought I was interested, the man opened his jacket and displayed other designer watches—such as Patek Phillip, Cartier, and Omega. “Choose what you want. $20 only each.”
That was shocking. I knew some high-end Patek watches cost $200,000. So how in the world could this man be selling them for $20?
Too bad for the watch guy, I don’t use watches. Stopped using them 25 years ago. To know the time, I look at the sun. On a cloudy day, I look at someone else’s watch.
But my buddy bought a $20 Rolex. It was a steal, he said.
Hey, it looked like a Rolex. It worked like a Rolex. It felt like a Rolex. But it wasn’t a Rolex.
Five months later, my friend was sad because his watch broke down. I told him, “What did you expect?”
Let me use this to explain why we have problems in our relationships.
How To Do The Great Switcheroo
Why do so many marriages have problems today?
Because many couples built their marriage on a pirated version of Love, not Love.
The pirated version of Love is Infatuation.
There was a time when I thought Infatuation was only for pimple-faced teenyboppers. Not true. Old fogies like myself aren’t exempted.
Not that Infatuation is a bad thing. It’s totally normal. Infatuation only becomes a bad thing if a person thinks it was Love.
I repeat: Infatuation is like a pirated copy of Love.
Foolish people think the pirated copy is real. When it breaks down, they panic or get depressed. They realize it’s fake. And their whole world crumbles.
Wise people know Infatuation is a pirated copy. They enjoy it while it lasts, but they know it was brittle and wouldn’t last. So secretly, they also bought the genuine article. (Note: Pirated versions are given; Real versions are bought. I’ll explain later.) So when the pirated version breaks down, the wise person does the great switcheroo. He pulls out the real thing.
Today, I’ll tell you how to spot the genuine from the fake.
I’ll describe the real deal—and how it’s the only thing that can save your marriage. But not only your marriage, but every other relationship you have.
Oh yes, so many people have relationship problems with their parents, or children, or siblings, or friends—because they don’t know what Real Love is.
I’m going to explain to you that Real Love is about dirty hands, not beating hearts.
Let me explain how this great switcheroo works…
“Ngooorrrk!”
“Father, we want to get married.”
When the engaged couple went to the priest to schedule their wedding, their hearts were beating for each other. It was so loud, the priest could actually hear it. “Dubdub. Dubdub. Dubdub.”
But he’s seen this before. How sweet lovebirds end up almost killing each other a year after the wedding. So he warned them, “As you know, feelings of love won’t last.”
And the couple said, “We know Father.”
But at the back of their minds, they’re saying, “We know Father that feelings of love won’t last for everyone else. But not for us. How can this feeling be fake when it’s as strong as a roaring volcano? It is as clear as the noonday sun, as eternal as the waves of the sea, as beautiful as the stars in the night sky.”
After the wedding ceremony, they have their honeymoon.
On their first night, the new husband watches his bride asleep, the moonlight streaming from the bedroom window onto her lovely face. He gazes at her long eyelashes, her pinkish cheeks, her parted lips. All of a sudden, she snores.
“Ngooorrrk.”
What does he say?
“How cute.”
Six months later, it’s the same scene.
They’re at home. The guy sees his wife asleep, with the moonlight streaming from the window onto her face. All of a sudden, she snores.
“Ngooorrrk.”
What does he say?
“How gross.”
What happened? Infatuation, the pirated version of love, disappeared. Real Love must now kick in.
But only if he has it.
Let me give you another example.
From Gazing To Gossiping
How do you know if a couple in the restaurant are not married?
Easy.
If they’re physically close, touching each other, hand to hand, eye to eye, nose to nose, bad breath to bad breath—they’re not married.
Look underneath their table, and if their legs are intertwined and they’re playing footsies together, they’re not married.
If they don’t look at anything else but each other, they’re not married.
If nuclear bombs fall right beside them and they won’t even notice, they’re not married.
If a flash flood engulfs the entire restaurant and all the guy could say was, “Sweetheart, I love the color of your eyes as it reflects the brownish floodwater around us,” you can bet your life, they’re not married.
And how do you know if a couple in a restaurant are married?
Easy.
If they’re seated far apart, so far a part, a six by six truck could pass in between them, they’re married.
If they look bored, they’re married.
If the whole night, all they do is talk about other people, they’re married. The wife whispers, “Don’t look at her, but the woman behind you is wearing fake eyelashes, fake jewellery, a fake Coach bag, fake anatomical parts, and a fake husband.” Being dense, the man turns around and asks, “Where? Where?”
Once upon a time, they had eyes only for one another.
Now, they barely look at each other.
What has happened? Infatuation, the pirated version of love, disappeared. Real Love must now kick in.
But only if they have it.
Spot The Difference
Let me now share five clear-as-daylight differences between Infatuation and Real Love:
1. Infatuation doesn’t require a decision. It just happens. You see a girl and boom—your hormones kick in and you want her. You don’t know why. It’s her dress. It’s the way her hair falls on her shoulder. It’s her smile. It’s the way she bites her fingernail. That’s why I said that pirated versions are free. But Real Love doesn’t just happen; Real Love requires a decision. That’s why Scott Peck says Real Love can only start after one has “fallen out of love.”
2. Infatuation, no matter what you do, lasts only for a season. You have these feelings of love swirling within you until something happens that breaks the spell. Maybe she’ll open her mouth. Maybe she’ll reveal her fangs. Maybe she’ll pick her nose. Maybe she’ll spend your money. Maybe she’ll introduce you to her mother. Maybe she gains 30 pounds. It could be anything. Infatuation can last for a few days or for a couple of years. But Real Love can last forever precisely because it’s a decision.
3. Infatuation is directed towards a figment of your imagination. You’re not attracted to a real person. You’re attracted to a projection of that person from your own imagination. Like Infatuation itself, you’re in love with a fake. But Real Love is directed towards a real person. You now know her strengths and weaknesses, and have accepted it all.
4. Infatuation is a spontaneous collapse of your boundaries. You get lost and you merge with the other. You’re enmeshed. You can’t survive without each other. But Real Love requires strengthening of both your boundaries; You actually don’t need each other, but you choose each other because you want to serve.
5. Infatuation is all about feelings. Dubdub. Dubdub. Dubdub. Cold palms, giddy spells, dazed looks, and feet on the clouds. But Real Love is about dirty hands. You don’t have to feelanything to love. Love is a verb, not just a feeling. Love is an action, not just a state. Let me repeat my message: I believe love is about dirty hands, not beating hearts. The essence of love isn’t feelings but service. Scott Peck says it so well—the opposite of love isn’t hatred; the opposite of love is laziness.
Your Physiology Affects Your Psychology
Here’s the thing.
I’ve found out that only mature people can love. Only mature people can do the great switcheroo when the pirated copy fails. They just pull out the genuine article.
Why? Only mature people have love within them.
Real Love has very little to do with the other person. A loving person can love because he is a loving person, not because the other person is lovable.
You may be asking me, “But Bo, is love dry? Isn’t there room for feelings?”
Of course, there is.
Here’s a secret mature people know in their hearts even if they don’t know it cognitively: Your physiology affects your psychology. Your feeling follows your action.
If we keep on doing acts of love, we increase our feelings of love. The more we “dirty our hands”, the more we find our “hearts beating” for the other.
To make this practical, let me share seven simple ways of dirtying your hands. They are (1) Help, (2) Prayer, (3) Presence, (4) Touch, (5) Words, (6) Gifts, and (7) Boundaries.
1. Help
Love means giving practical help.
If you’re a mother, I’m sure there are days when you wake up feeling blue and you don’t want to enter the kitchen. But fifteen minutes later, where are you? Cooking in the kitchen, because some little people will get hungry. You don’t feel like doing it. But you do it anyway. That’s love.
If you’re a husband, I’m sure there are days when you go home tired from work. But you see your kids. And even if all you want to do is lie down on the couch, you decide to play with them. You don’t feel like doing it. But you do it anyway. That’s love.
If you’re a child whose parents are older, I’m sure you want to help them. Sure, you’ve got your own problems now, but doesn’t stop you from serving them. You don’t feel like doing it. But you do it anyway. That’s love.
2. Prayer
Love means praying for your loved ones.
Perhaps your father was a horrible man. And you hate him. But you decide to pray for him.
Sooner or later, God will answer your prayer. God will change him, but He’ll change you first. Your father gets blessed, but you get blessed too. Ultimately, you become a more loving person.
You pray whether you feel like it or not.
That’s love.
3. Presence
Love means spending time together.
Not just being physically together, but also being emotionally together.
That could mean a father playing with his kids. Or a daughter visiting her aging parents. Or siblings going shopping together. Or friends laughing over pizza. Or a couple taking a walk.
There’ll be times when you won’t feel like bonding together.
But you do it anyway. That’s love.
4. Touch
Love means physical affection.
One day, a couple walking to work noticed a man passionately kissing a woman. “Why don’t you do that?” said the wife.
“Honey,” replied her husband, “I don’t even know that woman!”
People aren’t machines. They need to be touched. Holding hands, pats on the back, shoulder rubs, hugs, and kisses nourish and heal people more than you can possibly imagine.
Again, there’ll be days when you don’t want to kiss or hold hands or hug. But you do it anyway. That’s love.
5. Words
Love means verbal or written expressions.
When was the last time you told your husband, “Thank you for working so hard for our family”? When was the last time you told your wife, “Thank you for being a great mother to our kids”? When was the last time you told your mother, “Thanks for serving me all these years”? And when was the last time you actually said, “I love you”?
You might argue with me and say, “Bo, I don’t want to be a hypocrite. When I say it, I must feel it.”
Here’s my question: Are you just your emotions?
Or are you much more than your emotions? Are you also your spirit, your soul, your mind, your imagination, your will?
6. Gifts
Love means giving tokens—or symbols of love.
To you, your gift may mean nothing. But to another person, a small, inexpensive gift from you could mean the world.
7. Boundaries
Love means respecting the boundaries of the other.
Love means giving space to the other and letting the other person grow on her own. Love also means letting the other face her own responsibilities.
I like it when my wife goes out with her girlfriends each week. I like it when she takes up other interests. I like it when she grows and flourishes as an individual. I like it when she tells me, “Bo, I need some alone time. I’ll just go window shopping for awhile.” So I pray over her, “Lord, I claim in faith that she’ll be faithful to those words, that she will indeed go ‘window’ shopping only. Thank you, Lord, for this miracle!”
Love Is Service
I dedicate my last story to all those living away from their loved ones today—Overseas Filipino Workers, Migrants, etc.
Many years ago, I met Alice, a Filipina teacher in Brunei.
She was my host and took care of me while I was there. When I woke up early one morning, I noticed that she was on the phone. But she wasn’t speaking.
She explained that it was her beautiful ritual of love to her husband. Years ago, her husband suffered a stroke and he became paralyzed. So she went to Brunei to work for the family.
And what was this ritual of love? Alice would wake up at 4 in the morning to call her husband. (This was before the days of cell phones and text messages.) But because they could not afford long distance calls, they agreed that the husband was not to answer the phone.
Instead, the husband would allow the phone to ring.
And ring.
And ring.
He would allow the love of Alice, symbolized by the ringing, to fill their house and to fill his heart.
For 8 years straight, Alice did this beautiful ritual without fail.
Until he finally passed away.
That’s what love is.
Not like feelings that come and go.
Not like moods that are here today and gone tomorrow.
Love is simply done, day in and day out.
Because it’s eternal.
Constant.
Faithful.
It was Mother Teresa who said, “Service is a fruit of love”.
If you love, you will serve.
Go now, and like Mother Teresa, dirty your hands.
May your dreams come true,
Bo Sanchez
PS. Do you now enjoy my GodWhispersClub? It’s Free. Thousands have already joined and are receiving GodWhispers twice a week. And they love it. Go to www.GodWhispersClub.com now.
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good day bro. Bo!
This article taught me what true love means. Continue to write inspiring article…Thank you
To God be the glory!!!
It is timely indeed that we speak about LOVE as it should be.
I know eight marriages of college sweethearts, five of whom disintegrated not long after the wedding. They were “cool” pairs in campus and many envied them for their “cute” relationships.
That was then.
I talked to one of the guys and all he said was, “she changed.” Then I wondered where I got the nerve to ask him, “you mean she changed and you didn’t?”
Sarcasm is far from my mind here. These are friends, and I know the names and faces of the ladies involved in their lives. I was single then, and this crossed my mind, “will this happen to me too?”
By God’s grace I’m blessed with a happy and meaningful marriage. He led me and my wife to a community of people that reinforce marriage as a sacred institution. He led us to books and people who helped us grow. He led us to a mindset of learning from others the things that we don’t want to learn first hand.
Thanks for the countless inspirations and blessings!
Today– after reading this Bro Bo changes how I see the relationship towards my family. Thank you, Bro.
Hi Bo,
How true.
Even in the ministry, what you said is so true. I cannot count the number of co-servants in our ministries for the poor who used to be very enthusiastic, only to fade away later on. Hurt feelings. They didn’t get what they want. Serving the poor based on feelings. Serving for that “feel good” romantic feeling. Then the romance of serving gradually disappears, and the servants disappear too. So sad.
A “wow” article Bro Bo… it reminds me again to consistently say and do how much i love my family, gf, friends, officemates and young boys i’m handling. It is nice to know that real love is based on decision… i totally agree…
To my father who passed away 12 years ago, though i failed to say “iloveyou when you were still alive”… i really do love you. You are the greatest father … and i will keep on loving more to my loved ones who are still with me… i offer it to you dad.
To everyone, a Blessed All Souls Day.
Godspeed.
Thanks Bo.
Beautiful article. The story of Alice touched me the most. My husband and I moved here in Houston some 6 years ago. I am fortunate to be with family but we have friends who have left loved ones behind.
My comment is not that related to the post, but I can’t help myself. Alice’s story reminds me of a co-teacher who has to send home her sick husband because medical expenses are cheaper back home for those who do not have health insurance here. Sadly, the husband passed away a few days after his surgery, away from family (just like Alice’s husband)
These couple are very much inlove -have 3 wonderful kids (2 of which are of legal age). This couple’s life and love was an inspiration to us.
Oh well, I guess, I just got carried away.
Thank you for an inspiring post. My husband and I continue to lift up marriages and families to remain strong and faithful.
correction : “This” couple…
Thanks!
Wow Bro Bo… Another inspiring article.
Thanks!
Truly Inspiring!
Thanks!
the last story is very inspiring…
thanks Bo..
ang galing…
praise God !
Thanks…
I am really amazed of this article… it reminds of do’s and don’ts for a relationship…. praise God… thanks, Bo…
Very true and indeed inspiring…
Thank you so much Bo…
Good afternoon
These very words, are the definition of what unconditional love is…
it is very appropriate at this time most especially to me…
Thank you for your inspiring words of wisdom…
Thanks Bro. Bo! I’m so blessed with your message…
wow bo!!! i was touch about what u said in ur article i forget all those important things and that matters. i forget how to be a person i thought i was a robot with no feelings. thnxs for reminding me how people should be treated and loved. tnx. please pray for me bo so God will give me wisdom which only comes from him.
So inspiring, Kuya Bo! Thank you for writing this! I will share these with my friends.
SIR BO,
lupet sir BO,pinaiyak mo naman ako sa last story mo….
GODBLESS YOU ALL!
thanks
bro bo, your article today truly touched me.. it only reminds me of my and shortcomings to my wife and children.. especially to my parents and siblings… i hope and i pray that someday our differences will be patched up to mend our broken relatiionships … To my wife and children who supported me through all this years ,thank you and i love you very much.. keep inspiring bro. bo.. god bless..
Beautiful article indeed! =)
God bless!
thank you bro bo.. stories like this really touches my heart..\
benedict
wow! yun pala yun, ganun pala yun kaya pala…!@!!!
LOVE will always be in my spirit. kumuha po ako ng 5 love language test at yung love language ko po na pinakaevident is ACTS OF SERVICE FOLLOWED BY QUALITY TIME AT PHYSICAL TOUCH..
I am a seafarer and I can relate to the last story. Thank you po..
vlad 21 iloilo, 09182252969
i actually have the same things in mind about love. Although other people around me didn’t. I may not be mature enough to be in love with a significant other. I seem to have too high a standard or maybe I just hadn’t found someone to love yet. There are times when I would wonder that maybe I’m not a loving person coz I can’t seem to find someone I want or I choose to love. People would think I’m not normal because I am an NBSB in spite of the fact that I have many admirers. What they don’t know is that I’m just as normal as them. I do have feelings for some of my admirers but I just don’t consider them to be the real love. I also think they have the fake love for me which will fade in time. Maybe this idea of real love stemmed out from what I see from my parents.
My parents are not in good terms with each other. They barely talk. If they do, they talk to argue and fight. I was just thinking yesterday that they, or at least one of them, may just be infatuated with each other before because for me, they really are not compatible. Their priorities and beliefs just clash. And this article I just read today just explained well my thoughts. Thanks Bo. Your words really make sense to me.
Hi Bo,
Thank you for this inspiration.
It may not work for me yet but I can relate it with other people. I may be able to understand them better.
Keep the beautiful thoughts posted for God’s glory!
Nancy
Kuya Bo, thanks for this wonderful post. I have always been a regular reader of your blog. I hope it will continue to touch other’s lives too.
A very inspiring message…to everyone especially to all OFW’s and migrant workers, miles away from thier families..please continue enligthening us about marriage and relationship.. a million thanks.
JB
Hi Bro. Bo,
Thank you for your inspiring story today.
It enlightened me.
Bro.Bo,
Good morning, Congrats very inspiring and enlightening to all couples with sturdy, rocks, on the rocks and falling relationship. May the single be bless with this inspirational messages….
God Bless you. Have a nice and wonderful weekdays…..
Time and time again your words inspire us. I hope a lot of people could read your blog to learn what love really is. Thank you. God bless us all.
[…] Is Your Love Genuine Or Fake? “Buy Rolex. $20 only.” […]
Hi Bro Bo,
Thanks for the wonderful story of love,
a very enlightening one,
I love the article. Thank you brother Bo.
hi Bo,
i guess my relationship with my wife was all infatuation…
thanks Bo.
inspiring article indeed.!
but, can anyone tell me how will these be applied in bf-gf relationship if only one is making things work? this make me ask myself if i am indeed in a real relationship 
Hi Bo,
Greetings from Ghana, West Africa!
Nice article…and i agree with you ..its really hard to find and experience real love..we are surrounded by pirated love..and so sad.
thank you very much..I’m blessed with your message..
Thank you so much, Bro. Bo!
Your article clearly answered what was on my mind a couple of weeks na po. Yes, service is love. Kaya nga po kahit nalilito ako sa career path ko, i am here with my parents now, umuwi po ako sa province to help my parents and to serve them in the way that I know.
God is working on answering my prayers, and I trust Him.
Continue transcending God’s message. God bless you & ur family!
Praised be to God for continually guiding you to impart His message to those in need. An inspiration, a blessing, an answered prayers to most people. Thank you for signing up with God to be His intrument, His messenger.
hi Mr. Bo,
I am so touched… very true!
I always read your articles, but this is the first time i wrote. i even printed some of your articles and used it in my classes. my students were touched too.
thank you very much!
so touching…thanks Bro. Bo!
Hi bro Bo. I was really caught up by these articles (relationship drift, stop trying to fix people and malnourished love) but this article really makes me analyze myself and my relationships. It drives me for a change. Reading your article does not only give me lesson, it also gives me a different kind peace… I just hope that I can put these into action and be a better person for my loved ones especially to my son… Keep inspiring people. More power
Bo,
Thank you so much…im really touched…im so inspired to love more my future husband….
Thank you for the beautiful reminder and amazing story of LOVE Bro. Bo…from Australia with love!
Thanks Bo! It’s an eye opening to everyone, what LOVE is. Keep inspiring all of us.
Gods speed.
My boyfriend and I have been together for three years. even if we didn’t know ur stance on love before and we were not yet your enthusiastic readers then, it’s just amazing to realize that the things we’ve been doing within those three years are some great manifestations of the signs of “real love” that you discussed in your article. it is so true Bro. Bo. LOVE IS NOT A MERE EMOTION, IT’S A DECISION. when I feel like falling out of love, I will just think of all the good traits my boyfriend has, all the things he did for me and my family, and all the storms that we have been through. consequently, I will decide on staying in the relationship. and he respects me so much more than my own brothers do. I am really glad to have found him. And to all people out there in their early twenties who feel like this thing never happens to young people (the maturity level of a romantic relationship), well, our relationship could be a sign that tells it’s not true. we’re just 23 but our relationship has been far more successful than those of people older than us. The best thing about it is that we are growing together, both learning and improving. Actually, the bottom line of any successful relationship is yung cooperation and effort ng both parties. wala po yan sa relasyon, nasa tao po yun.
May God guide us all to keep our relationships strong, para sa ganun, mas gumanda po ang mundo. Happy Halloween po sa ating lahat!
Anne
i agree. amen.
Thanks a lot! After reading this message i realized something more important! … my FAMILY!
nessa
Food for thought, Bro Bo!
This article allows us to identify and to appreciate the people who genuinely love us and it outlined simple ways of how we can genuinely love others.
I also agree that real love requires two people who are whole as individuals and have healthy boundaries. Otherwise, it’s called codependency.
Very enlightening! Looking forward to your future articles!
WOW!Just when I thought that I’m tired of loving this wonderful blog came along…I’l continue doing acts of LOVE anyway and
ENJOY! CHEERS to you Bro.BO
Dear Brother Bo,
everyday i will check my emails for your updated blog sa friendster .. when it came out ..ill post it to my school multiply site and share .. this article means a lot to me .. hope it can materialized to go on to settle down to married life ,, and hoping this partner of mine also can realized upon reading this article .. please pray for us .. thank you in advance
Thank you BO.. you made me realize and continually inspire me how to grow love with others. God Bless!
bo… naiyak ako dun sa last part. about that gesture of love the woman did for her husband. hmmm i believe that i am making may hands “dirty” too… everyday i go to mass… and every time it’s “peace be with you time” i put out my celphone and send a quick SMS to my boyfriend to tell him “peace be with you my love.” i know it’s not good texting at the holy mass… but i believe God knows the condition of my heart, and He knows that i’m just doing a great service of love to my habibi. (he’s in dubai by the way)
BRo Bo!!!!
before I read this article today, lst night, I confessed to a guy my true feelings about love with strong desire (to the higest level) via sms…hehehe…This morning I learned that he has a wife as he replied..seriously, I’m wondering why there’s no hurt feelings so no teary jerky moment happend. It may only mean one thing, GOD made me ready to accept this so I can easily evaluate my feelings for him..
luckily, I’ve bn shed of light with ur wisdom found in your article .I found out, it’s not yet time to meet my one and only true love…..
Thank GOD ure HIS messenger to us all!!!!!!!!!!!
Bo,
I totally agree with you. Love is a decision.
If you choose to fall in love, you fall in love. If you choose to fall out of love, you fall out of love. But if you decide to stay in love and love the person unconditionally, then you stay in love. = )
Love is an everyday decision we make.
I can’t help but cry on this article, very touching.
Thank you Bro. Bo for sharing.
hi bro. bo! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts about relationships and love. I’m getting married next year and for sure this gave me a halt to make a reality check…
I’m quite sure you could still remember the day when THE FEAST was cancelled because of ONDOY. Me and my fiance’ went there and you personally told us it’s cancelled. You asked us where we’re from and answered i’m from Bicol and he’s from Isabela. We try to attend THE FEAST everytime we’re in Manila on a weekend. You inspire us both… We hope your ministry could reach us in our home town.
Bro. Bo, do u conduct marriage encounter or some sort? We would gladly attend it w/o having second thoughts. It would surely strengthen us both and would be a good guidance to us before and after our wedding.
We’re hoping you could answer our query. Again, thank you and more power to you and your ministry.
i was so touched with this article Bo, thank you so much … its an eye opener for me.
To God be the glory.
Hi Bo, I’ve read so many articles about you.. You give me another point of view for this life, love.
You give me an inspiration. For today article, I totally aggree with you, I’ve ever been in situation what it’s called infatuation.
And I don’t want that situation happen and strangling on my life again.
with this article really really motivate me to find someone that I can give my eternal.
Thanks to Chicha, that introduce me to you. Keep inspiring people Bo!!
thanks for sharing.
i hope my ex will have the chance and time to read this. this might help him in his future relationships. i hope he’ll realize the reason why I broke up with him - i tried to show him the real love i have for him but he’s just into infatuation
i can no longer make myself sacrifice more in our relationship.
thanks a lot. i now have an answer to my question. i had been wondering why my relatioships all failed.
“Infatuation” was always there. the other person may have had showed the real love but i did not. hope one day, i could sacrifice and find and show the true love.
thanks a lot.
thanks a lot for this very inspiring article….
It’s always been a delightful experience everytime I read blogs from your site. Doing this for a year now.
Indeed, Love is about service. The line that struck me ” Are you JUST your emotions, Or are you much more than your emotions? Are you also your spirit, your soul, your mind, your imagination, your will?
thanks for the realization
GOD bless
I loved it, all of these are true. Please continue to inspire others bro. bo.
May GOD bless us all!
kuya Bo,
napakaganda at napakasarap basahin….. mabuhay ka,
God Bless You….
thanks bo! why is it that your articles come just when i needed answers the most? your articles are heaven sent! you see, i am at a crossroads now, loving someone who seem lost in his past.. for months, i tried in vain to make him realize that im there but to no avail until i got tired..
but reading your article gave me clarity and now i know what to do! thanks bo!
Very inspiring Bro. Bo God Bless,i
Very nice & inspiring
thanks Bro. Bo!
hay bro bo.. thanks po ha… lam mo hirap tlga magmahal lalo na pg alam mo at narramdaman mo na di naman ina-appreciate un effort mo… pero tlagang ganun.. love without conditions di po ba… all for God’s greater glory… ingat po lage.. God bless us all…
Bro. Bo,
I am very happy about your message and this is true. I love your message because i really experienced this kind of love. Until now my husband and I still be the same what we felt during our first met. We are now 17 yrs of marriage and blessed with 3 children. Yes its been a long process to accept each other weakness and strong points of our personality. But if you accept it no matter what it is, and that is LOVE. Love is unconditional and service. You have to serve your husband or wife and children and no fees to collect because you love them.
Right now I am working as an OFW, without my husband and children beside me. But with a constant communication, i feel i am there and with the use of high technology system, that’s computer we’ll see each other in webcam. Yes it is very expensive to call overseas and a long waiting of letters to come. That’s why thank God for the use of someone who invented the computer and cellphone. This is our easiest way of communicating to our love ones.
Thank you for inspiring message and God Bless you always.
hi bro. bo
very very nice article…LOVE…
thank u…
Godbless Us Always…:)
THANK BRO BO….im so inlove with this article…Love Love Love!…..
Thank You Brother Bo….
Wow….reading this really touched me in many ways and taught me alot for the woman I love, Ria, knowing I truly love her, but also how to keep that love alive and blossoming daily through out our life together…we are engaged and reading this also realizing that our love will change but knowing I already am prepared to make the choice in loving her unconditionally for who she is to let her grow but to also in the choice i will love her no matter what for all of time, doing the little things to keep the love love alove for us both, but most of our with prayers and in our faith in GOD together….
thank you so much for this article….
hi bo,
tks for this wonderful message, this very inspiring to everyone. i am so touched when i read this great article from you.
tks so much!!!!!! God Bless!
Thanks Bo, for this wonderful article. I related so much to it. Love really is service, I’m here is the United States right now, away from the family that I love, with so much to accomplish, but I do this because of my love for them. And I’m willing to do more. Thanks Bo.
I was inspired in this article bo. thanks for this.=)
truly, love is a decision…Bo tells all….God bless this ministry!
I think everything you said about LOVE is completely nonsense and unfathomable. You dictate too much of the ways of how nature love must be. I think you are very much misleading the people about it. I don’t like your blog. Please don’t keep making nonsense like this because you look like a preaching fool. -redpoker111@yahoo.com
You simply amazed me, every time I read your articles.
Keep it up, and always be a blessing to everyone.
A friend from Carmel.
Hi Bro. Bo
Another good article.
Eventhough I am on a marrying age but still have difficulty distinguishing love from infatuation. Sometimes, we like the feelings but not the action that comes with it. I am trying my best to change the attitude. With Gods help and my friends prayer help and guide me in the right path.
Thanks for the inspiration. I salute for your efforts and guidance.
=)
i feel everything is difficult for me right now.. thank you for this beautiful story
Hi Bo,
I really love reading your articles.So inspiring….
Hope to read more of your articles..
Goodluck and Godbless..
Hi Bo,
i do love your articles..thanks for sharing it..i’ve learned a lot.. God Bless you….
Hi Bo,
This blog is very great! I was really touched by Alice’s story. And I am waken what LOVE really is by your every word.
Can you pray for me Bo? As of the moment, Im in fight. I am fighting for my love. I have problems with my guy. He is still attach with his ex-gf, but he doesnt want to let me go. Everytime I tried to talked to him about giving me up, he always beg for me not to let him go and fight with him. He promised me that he will resolve everything, and he only needs time. And, Bo, I love him, and honestly I dont really want to let him go.
As I read your blog, I evaluate and access myself on whats happening. Am I really inlove with this guy? I admit that we started with INFATUATION. But why cant I let him go? Why Im still here fighting for him? Does he feel the same burden? DOES HE REALLY LOVE ME?
Im trying to answer my own questions, but I cant find it. So hard to find it. I am confuse, Bo. Please pray for us.
MJ
i just got out of a relationship, and i realized..
i loved.
Hi Bro Bo,
I love this article. It was very inspiring. Godbless you more!
Annh
LOVE, if all people have this, what a wonderful world to be.
Godbless Bro.Bo.
bro…good one bro good one
This is very inspiring…
Love is all that matters. indeed
Thanks Bo, i was teary eyed when i read your last story and dedicated it to OFWs. My husband is working at Oman for and i agree that love is service, coz for 18 years, we never get tired of communicating everyday either through email or chatting or through phones, thank God to all these technologies! Again through your story i still have to do more in making my hands dirty! God bless!
Cleo
it wasnt my intention to read this whole article, i dont even have my girlfriend whom i must say i must have loved..upon reading the article, i came to realize that love was not only about partner in relationship, rather, love is about giving yourself to someone who needs it mostly..true love comes when your ready to serve someone..
I love this article. Another one that hits me right on the spot. Your blogs really has a way of hitting me right on target . All the time. =)
Bo,
You are Love.
A Beautiful Soul.
God bless you more!
Marissa
hi bro. Bo, thank you for this article, the reason why i attached the message of MJ here is that we’re on similar situation.ang tanging pagkakaiba po lamang ay break na kami..despite that i still Love him,as i assess myself genuine love naman po un.. What should I do?
MJ, on November 3rd, 2009 at 12:10 pm Said:
Hi Bo,
This blog is very great! I was really touched by Alice’s story. And I am waken what LOVE really is by your every word.
Can you pray for me Bo? As of the moment, Im in fight. I am fighting for my love. I have problems with my guy. He is still attach with his ex-gf, but he doesnt want to let me go. Everytime I tried to talked to him about giving me up, he always beg for me not to let him go and fight with him. He promised me that he will resolve everything, and he only needs time. And, Bo, I love him, and honestly I dont really want to let him go.
As I read your blog, I evaluate and access myself on whats happening. Am I really inlove with this guy? I admit that we started with INFATUATION. But why cant I let him go? Why Im still here fighting for him? Does he feel the same burden? DOES HE REALLY LOVE ME?
Im trying to answer my own questions, but I cant find it. So hard to find it. I am confuse, Bo. Please pray for us.
MJ
Thank you very much for the very enlightening,inspiring article.
Godbless!
Thanks Bo for this inspiring article.
I just hope thet “she” reads this simple yet profound thoughts on love.
Regards
;p
what if you do all this and your partner still do hurtful things?
Is it worth it?
hi brod bo,
i was touch when i read about the story of alice. my husband is a seaman, thank God that thru text and call we communicate everyday. napatawa ako sa ring ng ring lang ang fon kc ganyan din kami magparadamdam lang. lahat ng ginagawa ko every now and then teni text ko husband ko and at the end of the day na mag gudnyt ako saka pa siya mag respond. naka monitor lang siya palagi, feel ko na nasa tabi ko lang siya. that what love is.
may you continue inspire others.
God bless
Hi Bo,
Thanks for the article you have posted.My husband and I were reminded of our relationship .
Cheers to your program. God bless always.
love this article , now i understand that i shouldn’t only impress people with looks that will develop infatuation , it must be appreciation to develop love
hello brod bo,
thanks for your blog infatuation or real love. i’ve been married for 19 years and i thanked God that its really love. we have challenges but love can conquer it. me and my husband talked about our relationship, your correct, we should paddle or else we will drift. life is a choice.
i have few friends who have problems on their married life at nagtataka ako na ako tinatakbuhan nila unloading their problems. thanks God for making me an instrument for saving 3 broken marriages.
God bless.
Sir Bo,
A very inspiring and thought provoking article that should be read and understood by everyone.
Indeed LOVE is everlasting!
God bless you more!
You open my eyes to see how true love is..
Thanks Bro. Bo
hi bo,
this is a good writing again. continue to enlighten us always.. life is so short yet so good.. especially if we all can just give love. there are times i really can’t understand things which are happening into my life but everything will be worthy.. sarap magmahal kung magaang lahat.. God bless everyone
Ganda. Believe it or not bro. bo, madalas kong tinatanong sa sarili ko, “Paano ba magmahal? Paano ko ba ipapadama sa tao na mahal ko sila?” Buti na lang nasulat mo na ‘to. Thank you for serving God and His children. More power to you.
now i know the difference between the two. Thanks Bro Bo, nang dahil sayo nabubuksan ang kaisipan ng maraming tao kung ano ang dapt at hindi nararapat. Kasi sa buhay lahat pwede pero hindi lahat ay nararapat. Mabuhay ka, God bless!
Hi Bro. Bo,
I love your article. Very timely. It’s just one of your articles where it feels like u know exactly what i’m feeling right now.
My boyfriend and I has just celebrated 6 years of being together. There are times when I dont really feel like bonding with him but its true that sometimes, you just do it. And when I do, most of the time, i’m surprised to find myself happier and more relaxed.
It wasnt easy. There were times when we are ready to let go and pray for what God would want us to do. But in love, its a bit of everything: decision, prayers and faith to just love. Now, i’m happy to have him in my life to love.
Thank you for a very inspiring article.. may you bless more people and show them how love can truly change them if they would only let it.
Good day Bro. Bo,
Thanx very much for the inspiring stories and reflections. You are 101% correct. I have experienced some events you have shared. Continue inspiring us with your wisdom and gifts. God bless you always and your family..
you never fail to touch my heart
now, i know what true love is.
thanks for answering my question
wow.. thanks brother bo.. you know what, i am really inspired by your stories… you really got that gift… thanks a lot.. im looking forward for your next email.. thanks!
-diana
Thanks bo!
What a nice article , it’s really chilled through my bone.
kahit na UP’S & DOWN kami ng partner ko, I know theres a life out of there for me.
dear bo,
thank you for the wonderful message. i almost cried here at starbucks. haha! maybe it’s the christmas-sy ambience, christmas songs and christmas decors that tug the heart and make us more vulnerable and accepting to real values of love. i began to re-assess my life, and am thankful that my parents marriage is to be envied for. they’ve been together for 40 years and counting, and they are still sweet, and though sometimes they have individual quirks, they are always together. they have acceptance each other’s shortcomings. they may argue, but they don’t fight (at least not infront of us). they are always a team, in decisions and implementing rules in the house.
i am thankful that God has blessed my sisters good marriages too. am continuing to pray that the rest of the family gets great marriages like that of my parents as well, and whatever hurt we may have felt individually or collectively, we can forgive and move on.
god bless. i had to bite my lip so as not to cry in a public place.
ps. the alice story is one of a kind. i praise god for her testimony to marriage and to family.
Bo….
thank you for sharing an endless inspirational stories… it keeps me going….. Mabuhay ka BO!!!
Hi Kuya Bo,
Thanks for this blog. Another soul touching stories, especially the 2nd way of dirtying our hands which is prayer, it’s as if it’s intended for me. Thanks a lot! I’ll wait for the God’s perfect time. Keep it up kuya Bo! God bless and more power.
Thank you so much for this line. “REAL LOVE HAS VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH THE OTHER PERSON. A LOVING PERSON CAN LOVE BECAUSE HE IS A LOVING PERSON, NOT BECAUSE THE OTHER PERSON IS LOVEABLE.”
Graduate ako ng BSMath, 4 years akong nasanay sa symbols na = (equals ) 1=1 , > (greater) 2 >1,
your words are all true……
Keep it up bro!
Wow ! Everyone’s face lights up when love is being analyzed , like a surgeon performing cardiac incisions . ha ! ha ! — For me, love is a genuine feeling from the heart , a deep mystery , a power that impels one to decide to commit to the other, denying one’s comfort and ease for the good of the beloved, wishing only what is good for the other. Otherwise, — it is not love at all. Love is the reason why parents sacrificed for the good of their children ; the reason why spouses, OFW’s endured the test of distance and time for their common commitment to their children ; the reason why our martyred Saints shed their blood to the very last drop, all for their burning love in their hearts for our Lord ; the reason why Jesus gave up His Life on the Cross for His great love for us ! ” No greater love is there, than for one to lay down his life for a friend. ” says Jesus. Love is manifested in the service to others . Reminds me when Jesus asked Peter, ” Peter do you LOVE me ? ” Peter replied, ” Yes Lord, you know i LOVE You ” . ” FEED My Sheep ” says the Lord. Genuine LOVE comes from the HEART , as St. Augustine revealed , ” My HEART is restless Lord until it rests in You. ”
” Love one another as I have loved you “. says our Lord.
So, — when you hear your heart’s ” love - dove ” , it’s fine , as long as you do the right thing, and you ” don’t let your heart rule over your head . ” ha ha !
God bless us all !
Have a very good day !
Bro Bo!!! Thanx 4 the inspiration.. I know now the difference between infatuation and true love… May all people realize it as i do now.. People sometimes just get into a relationship based on how fast their heart beats are; without realizing they have to invest time and effort.. Since it was a decision, am hoping that i’l be always under God’s guidance when i get there.. hehehehe.. Thanx !!!
More power to you Bro Bo!!!
Adja!!!
thnx Bro bo..super na touch aq bilang isang panganay na anak..mrmi tyo plans n gusto itulong sa family but sometimes we fail…ang galing…GOD bless!!
ngayon ko po nlman na mrunong po nlman na REAL LOVE pla ung ginagawa q sa FAMILY ko…en I know nmn ramdam nila un..Thnx God for my FAmily!!!
thank u bro. Bo for this wonderful and inspiring words of wisdom. i thank God for for this site. Godbless you, us and the whole world. Thank you so much