I have been married for a little under two years, but it has only taken that long to realize that I have a lot of growth to undergo in my understanding of love. It is so easy to existentially say that I love those around me, but having to replicate that day after day to my wonderful wife is a lot harder than I expected, yet more wonderful than I could have known.

Jesus is asking us in this passage, "Do you love me?" This seems so simple. It seems so obvious. And Peter responds the way that we all would, "Yes Lord, you know that I love you." But Jesus responds with a call to action each time after Peter responds. I think this is something that I need to be reminded of each day. Love is a verb. That means that it is something that I do. I give myself to others and to Jesus and possibly more important, I receive Jesus and others each day.

Before being married, I always thought of loving as something I do for others, yet I have realized more and more that it is also fully receiving those around me as well. Receiving each person for exactly the person that God made them to be and in so doing, finding God in all of the people that I meet. I have a lot more learning to do about love, but I am realizing that I can receive love as well as give it.