Love comes in all forms and among all people. Some people believe in love at first sight, while others believe they are made to be single their whole lives and find love in other places. No matter what, however, love is a truly beautiful thing that should be commemorated in the world.
Love takes both unconventional and conventional forms. The traditional method of love when one thinks about it is getting married after spending some time getting to know one another. That is not the way for everyone, however. Continue reading below to learn four stories of truly unconditional love.
1. Pakistani Arranged Marriage
Rakhshana Malik is a fifty-nine year old who was arranged in marriage to her husband. Arranged marriages continue even now in many Middle Eastern countries in which the families meet to find brides husbands. Malik found her husband through her twin sister’s arrangement rather than her parents’, however.
The man that Rakhshana Malik’s parents had suggested for her was not approved for by her brother-in-law. Her twin sister’s husband decided to try to set Malik up with his younger brother. There was one problem, however, he lived in America which was worrisome to her parents.
After time, however, everyone became pleased with the idea of the arrangement. In September 1884, Malik received a letter from her soon-to-be husband without speaking to one another, and in December, they were married. They met when they signed the wedding contract, but fell in love when he sent the letter.
Source: Shutterstock2. A Boyfriend and Caretaker
Becca Refford is a twenty-four year old who lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with her boyfriend. He and she met through a bartender at a bar in South Philadelphia. They actually met at the bartender’s house, where they stayed up all night talking on the front porch.
A few weeks later, the couple went back to the bar as a couple. A month later, after only knowing one another for just over a month, Refford was in a terrible car accident. Her boyfriend, however, jumped right in to become a caretaker after the wreck.
Refford and her boyfriend believe that their story is one of unconventional love as it is truly selfless. All care was given to Refford by her boyfriend with no questions asked. They continue being together even now, with their love only growing.
Source: Shutterstock3. A Single Girl and a Dog
Though not a classical love story, love can be found in other places for those who are single. Irene Vasiliou found true love through her dog who truly saved her life. Her little brother had died unexpectedly, and she pummeled into meaninglessness.
Irene had no passion about anything anymore after the death of her brother. That was, until she spotted her dog. She and her mother saw her dog running across a busy street as a stray. They stopped to help it, and it immediately looked toward her.
The dog looked to be in as much pain as Irene was. She was afraid, but Irene worked with her to bring her out of her shell and become the love of her life. The dog was named Grema and grew from her anxious troubles. It gave Irene purpose again and brought Grema the affection she needed.
4. Adopted and Found
Gayle Martin is the daughter of two teenagers who fell in love in Michigan in 1964. Though this is not a story of romantic love, it is a story of what real love looks like. Martin was put up for adoption, however, as her mother did not want her living in hardship.
Despite this, however, Martin’s father wanted to maintain a deep love for his daughter. Martin’s adoptive parents were great, however, and she never knew her biological parents. That was until she met with the state to discuss finding them.
She found that her father was an adoption case worker with the state. She wrote to her father, and her father became overwhelmed with emotion. Eventually, he agreed to meet with his daughter, telling her that he did not have contact with her mother. They continued to write letters to one another throughout. Martin was able to get in contact with her biological mother as well through her biological father’s support, and she did end up visiting Martin. This was true love and grace.
Final Thoughts
Love can take many shapes and forms, and it does not have to always be about romantic love in all instances. Often times, love comes in the most unconventional of forms, whether through an arranged marriage or a stray dog. Love is beautiful and is what keeps the world grounded and going at all times.
