Beyond the usual fear and worry, there is a type of fear that enriches our lives: the fear that those we love do not feel all our love.
When we think of the word “fear”, we usually associate it with the possibility that something bad will happen to us. However, in the 90s romantic comedy When a Man Loves a Woman, a different and generous concern is raised: the fear that a person does not know how much we love him.
In the film, Andy Garcia, the protagonist, addresses the daughter of his ex-partner (played by Meg Ryan) and, when saying goodbye to her, confesses that he is afraid that she does not know how much he loves her. Therefore, he promises to constantly show her his affection. The girl, excited, hugs him and promises to do the same.
Reaffirming our love for others
There can be no more productive and generous fear than worrying about the people we love feeling truly loved. I wish that fear, and not another, was the one that dominated our lives. That every day we woke up with the concern of knowing if those around us feel truly valued by us.
Living with that constant awareness, with the intention of not taking anything for granted, would make us more attentive and present. It would drive us to express ourselves with gestures, words and actions that reaffirm our love and gratitude to others.
In this way, we would be able to build stronger relationships, where affection is renewed every day with conscious care. This positive concern can motivate us to be more generous and attentive in our relationships, even when family ties change.
No matter the circumstances, show your love
There are situations in which parents or grandparents wonder how to treat their daughter-in-law when their children separate, especially if the relationship was always good. In cases like this —and in many others— we can remember the example of Andy García and that positive fear: doing things so that others know that we love them, even if family ties have changed. Let them know that our love is still intact.
Be creative in showing your love
In these times when so many families are breaking up, let us keep in mind that beautiful fear and the firm purpose of acting so that others feel our love. A phone call, a WhatsApp, a kind smile, a wink on the sly… There are always ways to make love reach them, as surely She, our mother, would do.
And in doing things, let us not forget the most important thing: pray for them.
Let us offer our prayers as an act of love, interceding for them before heaven. And if there is someone who worries us especially, if we feel that fear that our love will not reach them, let us ask their guardian angel to accompany us while we pray a mystery of the Rosary for them.
Because beautiful fear, when combined with prayer, becomes a blessing.
