Email From Auntie Series, Part 2

Now comes the talk
aunties in our culture
have with
their nieces
and nephews.

Romance…
is not the boastful
drama
paraded in public.
Nor is it
the passive affection
that thrives
in closed chambers.

Romance…
is the consistency
that makes a woman feel
safe,
chosen,
appreciated,
and seen.

It is…
the intentional way you speak to her…
the patience in how you listen…
the goodness in how you show up…
the kindness in how you hold her heart.

Romance is not performance…
nor acts done in secrecy.

It is love… yes!
Presence… yes!
Attention… absolutely.
And… honor.

Romance is the daily proof
that she matters…
without needing an audience
or a bedroom.

That is what it is.

And the truth is…
she seeks depth.

She wants
to be seen by you,
spirit to spirit,
listened to intently,
valued exquisitely,
and treated
as a respected partner
in life.

The mistake you made…
You misunderstood her.
Your ears were sealed
like the hidden caves
of Malawi.

But…
here is the wisdom
of ancients:
women
have layers,
more than most young men
ever realize.

Your wife wants
romance
before intimacy.
She wants a deeper
soul connection
before committing
and partnering
for life.

And remember this…
body vibes cannot
sustain a relationship.
Not in Kampala.
Not anywhere.

Do not rely on “vibes,”
as your generation
likes to say.
Vibes wither away
like the grasshopper season.

What remains
is how you speak to her,
how you listen,
how you show up,
how you make her feel
safe,
chosen,
and respected.

And now,
my son…
bear in mind
a lot of young men
like you never learn
this truth:

Intimacy
carries significance
when it is founded
on romance.

To hold her heart, you must be
consistent
in how
you really see her,
listen to her soul,
understand her spirit,
and honor her.

Then she will feel loved.
And when a woman feels loved,
you have her heart
and she has your back

So, listen…
before you ask her
to walk with you,
you must first learn
how to hold her heart.

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Author Bio
Dr. Ivan Edwards is a man who is comfortable wearing a few hats in life. A polymath, he is an ordained non-denominational minister, a medical doctor, a USAF flight surgeon (at the rank of Colonel), an entrepreneur and CEO, and a writer-poet.

His work explores healing, restoration, resilience, identity, and the strength of the human spirit shaped by faith.

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