The Unspoken Love

Why does it feel so strange,

awkward, even, to tell another man, "I love you?"

In this world, love is one word, but so many meanings.

Eros. Philos. Agape.

Three truths wrapped into one word

on our tongues, but each carries its weight.

Love from God,

Jesus’ redemption,

Peace from the Holy Spirit.

Through these, I learn love is more than

words spoken, more than affection given.

It is the ability to love others

regardless of what surrounds us.

I was taught,

"Real men don't cry."

But that lie reduces emotions to irrelevancy.

Real men feel,

And through that feeling, they grow.

Emotions are not for show or receiving pity;

They are for reflection,

For learning, for self-awareness.

They are for a man to face the moment,

To understand why his heart moves

And to stand taller knowing he overcame.

"Love thy neighbor as thyself,"

The ancient command resounds.

I am reminded by Leviticus:

Not to carry grudges,

But to love as a friend loves always,

A brother born for adversity (Proverbs 17:17).

Yet I question, can I tell my brother,

"I love you?"

The teachings of Christ—so simple,

Yet they confront me at every turn.

"Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you" (Luke 6:27).

Love, even when it feels impossible.

To lay down your life for a friend,

This, the greatest love (John 15:13).

I was taught strength is silence,

That love, affection, emotion—these are weakness.

But Jesus calls us friends,

Not servants,

Not because of duty,

But because we know His heart.

And He calls me to know my own

Where His Holy Spirit resides.

Peter reminds me that honor, respect,

Love for the brotherhood,

Isn't just for the kind,

But also for the harsh (1 Peter 2:18).

There is honor in suffering patiently,

Even when wronged,

Even when misunderstood.

This is thankworthy before God (1 Peter 2:19).

So I sit in the quiet of my own heart.

I feel the tension, the resistance

To tell another man, "I love you."

But why resist?

Love is not weakness,

It is not mere sentiment.

It is strength,

To love deeply,

In this world where men are told

To hide their tears.

God’s love—agape—calls me to lay down pride,

To be vulnerable,

To love even when it feels strange.

And so I learn to say it.

Not with hesitation,

But with a confidence that grows,

As I understand love not as an outward display,

But as an inward reflection of God’s presence in me.