The First Love: Storge (stor-jay).

Continuing with the love bombs....

Most of us know this love…that shoe you refuse to throw away. The sole is tired. The colour has faded. But nothing else feels quite right. New shoes come and go. This one stays. You and your shoe have annoyed parents, siblings, partners, and friends.
They don’t understand it. But you don’t need them to because this is your shoe.

I know that the comparison is stretched. But this is Storge (pronounced stor-jay).

Storge is affection. It’s the most natural form of love there is. The love between parents and children. Between siblings. Between lifelong friends. Even the love you feel for a family pet… or an old pair of shoes that carried you through life. 🐕

It’s not loud. It doesn’t rush your heart or give you butterflies. It’s the love of familiarity. C.S. Lewis called it the "humblest" love because it doesn’t demand much.
It doesn’t need to impress. It simply wants to be near. To be present. Storge is the quiet security of knowing: I belong here.

In Greek and Biblical thought, Storge speaks of deep, familial affection; love formed through time, shared memories, loyalty, and acceptance. It endures not because it is exciting, but because it is faithful.

But a gentle warning - not from fear, just awareness: Storge can become comfortable to the point of closed. It can slip into a "us vs them" mindset. It loves what is familiar… and sometimes resists what is different.

Still, when held with humility, it becomes a foundation for something sacred.

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

Tomorrow, we explore another love.
A different texture. A different pull.

One, Perfect Love.