It’s the month of love—but what does love really mean?
Many of us have believed we were in love, only to realise later that we weren’t. At other times, people may have claimed to love us, and we eventually learned that they didn’t.
In this article, Antiguans share what love truly means to them.
The Jarvises
“We met in primary school, and although our story began at a young age, it was not without its trials. Over time, our love has grown from simple feelings into intentional choices. For us, love looks like showing up, especially on the hardest days, when your partner needs you most. It feels like peace: sitting together, enjoying simple meals, cooking, watching a movie, laughing at funny videos.”
“What has allowed our relationship to truly blossom is our commitment to love each other, to consistently grow as individuals, and to pause, to be reflective, patient, and understanding of each other. Our love has matured into something deeper, rooted in growth, commitment, and a conscious effort to love each other in a Christlike way. It is truly a blessing to reflect on how far we’ve come, and to look ahead with excitement for what the future holds.”
Richard Thomas
“To me, love means patience, kindness, it’s sweet, sometimes, it’s disgusting, and annoying all in one, but overall, peace, happiness, joy, and laughter. It also means sacrifice. When you look at scripture, it describes what love is, and how God wants us to love. Sometimes, we stray, but when you find that person who was meant for you, love has no boundaries. You crave that person, just like how you may crave chocolate. Even when you have disagreements, the person is on your mind, and you question, ‘What are they doing right now?’ “
“There are times when you will have petty disagreements, but at the end of the day, love conquers everything. There are times when you have to be the bigger person, and ask what may be bothering the other person. Even when there are difficult moments, you reconcile and say, ‘Hey, you are the best thing to ever happen in my life.’ There will be other highlights- in your job or spiritual life, but when you find that special someone, it’s like nothing else matters.”
“So, don’t worry when people say that there’s no love. Love always deh. You just haven’t found the right one. Love is everything- it can be cruel, but without love, you have nothing. So even if you don’t love someone, you’ll love something else.”
“There’s also no love without sacrifice. Sometimes, a woman will say that they won’t do something for a man, because a man should do everything. There’s no love there, because there is no sacrifice.”
The Andrews
“Finding love means finding your connection. The one who understands you, completes you, upsets you, and motivates you. The one who complements your life. Our love isn’t perfect, but it is pure. A love made by needles and threads, butterflies, bandages, pizzas, flowers, motivation, laughter, a safe space, and a whole of prayer. Life isn’t perfect, therefore, no marriage can be, and we have accepted that. We’re [working] on our imperfections, and allowing our love to steer the ship into years to come.”
“It’s been two years of lessons and love and forever to go. Our love is a gift of our inner soul to each other so that both can be whole.”
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