The Many Forms of Love: How Connection with Others Fuels Us

When we think about love, our minds usually go straight to the grand gestures—the romance, the flowers, the movie-worthy moments. But if you’re living with a chronic illness, love often looks a little different. It looks like a friend who texts, “How’s your energy today?” instead of assuming you’re always up for plans. It’s a partner who learns the difference between “I’m fine” and I’m fine. It’s a community that understands your struggles without you having to explain them. It’s also the deep, unwavering love of God, who sees you even when no one else does. Because the truth is, there are many forms of love, and all of them have the power to sustain us.

A few years ago, I hit one of my lowest points with my health. The kind of low where getting out of bed felt like a victory and even texting back “I’m okay” was too much effort. I was exhausted, frustrated, and—if I’m being real—lonely. Not the kind of lonely that comes from being alone, but the kind that comes from feeling unseen.

Then, something shifted.

I found my people. Women who got it—who didn’t need an explanation when I canceled plans last-minute or needed to rant about yet another doctor who dismissed my symptoms. Women who didn’t try to fix me but just sat with me in the hard moments. They reminded me that even in my most isolated moments, I wasn’t actually alone.

This kind of love? It’s life-giving. It’s the fuel that keeps us going on the days when everything feels too heavy. And it’s just one of the many forms of love that help us navigate life with chronic illness.

One of the hardest parts of having a chronic illness is feeling like you constantly have to explain yourself—to doctors, to family, to friends who don’t quite understand. But the love that really sustains us? It’s the kind that doesn’t demand explanations. It just is.

It’s the friend who knows that “I’m tired” doesn’t mean you need a nap—it means your body is done.

It’s the sibling who doesn’t say, “But you were fine yesterday.”

It’s the fellow spoonie who sends you a meme about canceling plans before you even have to do it.

It’s the love that you give yourself.

And beyond all of that, it’s the love of a God who sees you in every moment. Who isn’t measuring your worth by your productivity. Who knows your pain, your exhaustion, your frustration—and holds you through it all. His love is steady, constant, and, like the many forms of love we experience in our relationships, it reminds us that we are never truly alone.

If no one has told you this lately: You don’t have to carry this all by yourself.

God is with you in this, and He often shows His love through the people He places in our lives. That’s exactly why I created The Unseen Sisterhood—because we all need a place to feel seen, heard, and understood. Whether you’re looking for advice, encouragement, or just a group of women who get it, this is your space.

So if you’re feeling alone in your journey, come join us. Share your story. Find your people. Because the many forms of love—real, life-giving love—come in all shapes, and you deserve every single one of them.