Purpose In Love

Maya came home later than usual after a long workday. The moment she walked through the door, Sadeek looked up from the couch and said, “You’re late again.”

His tone wasn’t harsh, but it was tight enough to put her on edge. Maya dropped her bag a little harder than she meant to, sucked her teeth, and rolled her eyes. “I had a meeting run over. Why does it sound like you’re accusing me of something?”

Sadeek grew quietly defensive. “I’m not accusing you. I just didn’t know where you were.”

Maya stood there, crossing her arms, already feeling her chest grow warm with irritation. “You could have texted instead of jumping to conclusions.”

Sadeek leaned back in his chair, frustration growing. “I did text. You didn’t answer.”

She pulled out her phone, saw the message, and felt a flush rise up her neck. “I didn’t see it. My phone was on silent.”

Sadeek shrugged. “It just feels like you ignore me when work gets busy.”

Maya’s heart dropped. That wasn’t true at all. She felt herself move into full defensiveness. “That’s not true. I work hard for us. I don’t ignore you.”

Sadeek looks over at his cigar sitting on the table next to him, picks it up, and then picks up his lighter to light it. “I didn’t say you don’t work hard. I said sometimes it feels like I’m not important when everything else gets your attention.” 

Maya shook her head. “So now I’m the bad guy because I’m tired?”

The room fell quiet. Both of them were stuck in their own interpretations, rather than the actual truth unfolding between them.

After Sadeek smoked his cigar and relaxed his nerves, a couple of hours passed without them speaking to each other. Sadeek decided to break the tension and have a conversation with Maya. So he asked her to sit with him at the kitchen table so they could have a conversation. Maya was still in her feelings and didn’t want to. But she sat down anyway to hear what Sadeek had to say.

As they sat there for a second. Sadeek finally understood what had been missing between them. They weren’t in crisis. Nothing dramatic had happened. But something small had begun to erode their connection—misunderstandings, assumptions, and a tone that slipped just a little too easily into defensiveness.

Maya folded her hands, grounding herself before she spoke. “I don’t feel heard,” she said gently. “It’s like we talk, but we don’t really listen.”

Sadeek looked at her with intent to hear what she had to say; I’m not angry. “I love you,” he said, “but I think I’ve been so focused on being right that I forgot to make you feel valued.”

It wasn’t a grand speech, but the honesty softened something in both of them.

Respect.

It was such a simple word that they had overlooked its power. They had passion, compatibility, laughter, and even shared goals. But respect was the quiet foundation they had assumed would hold on its own. Now they realized it needed to be chosen every day.

They made small promises that night—nothing dramatic, just genuine commitments. Maya promised to pause before reacting when she felt misunderstood, giving Sadeek space to clarify instead of assuming the worst. Sadeek promised to listen fully, not just waiting for his turn to speak, and to speak to her the same way he did in public: with consideration.

Over the next few weeks, something shifted in their home. They practiced speaking to one another with intention. When they disagreed, they reminded themselves that the goal wasn’t to win—it was to understand. Respect became the silent rule that shaped everything: tone, timing, body language, and even the way they apologized.

Maya noticed she felt safer sharing her vulnerabilities. Sadeek noticed he felt more appreciated. Respect created a climate where love could breathe again—steady, warm, and rooted.

They realized respect wasn’t passive—it was active. It showed up in the way they protected each other’s dignity, even during tension. It showed up in how they affirmed each other’s dreams. It showed up through patience, generosity, and the choice to assume good intentions.

One night, Sadeek said, “It feels like we rebuilt something—stronger this time.”

Maya smiled. “Because we finally built it on the right thing.”

Their relationship didn’t become perfect. But it became stable. Nurturing. Safe. Respect wasn’t a feeling—it was a practice, and every day they practiced, their love grew deeper and less fragile.

In the quiet of their home, they learned a truth many couples miss: love may start a relationship, but respect sustains it. Respect keeps hearts open. Respect makes communication honest. Respect turns two individuals into a team.

And when respect becomes the foundation, the relationship has room to grow—not just in affection, but in trust, unity, and peace.

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” — Romans 12:10