I am divorced, so if I were to answer this question, I would automatically say, “Not very long.” But that really isn't true. My ex put me through hell and back, but I still have feelings for him. I must, I still dream about him. I rarely ever dream about men, but when I do, it is usually about him, and we have been divorced awhile.
A very wise man, and friend, told me once, “there is a fine line between love and hate.” At that time (right after my divorce) I could not comprehend that. After all, I HATED HIM! After what he put me through, I truly felt like I hated him. Yet, as time went by and all my bruises (not literally) and my “broken into a billion pieces” heart healed, I realized there truly is a fine line between love and hate. I do still love him. Not in the same way as I did when we were married, but it still is love. It is just a different type of love, but love, nonetheless.
After my divorce, I had to literally question the biblical definition of love. After all, HOW CAN ANY HUMAN BEING LOVE LIKE THAT? (I certainly didn't). I was much too young and immature. I didn't even know the difference between love and lust.
Love never ends, it simply “changes”. Yes, I know some of you are going rebuke this, but I think that years from now, you will agree with me.
New King James Version: 1 Corinthians 13
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in inquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
In other words, love is stronger than concrete. Love never fails. Concrete is pretty strong, but after years of wear, it will fail.
“PERFECT” LOVE NEVER FAILS. NEVER. Incredible.
Perfect love is like a diamond. Consider what a piece of coal has to go through in order to become a diamond. Therefore, according to scriptures, perfect love must be like a diamond.
I cannot say that I have “perfect” love for my ex-husband because I don't. But at least I don't hate him anymore.
When you think you hate someone, remember, “There is a very fine line between love and hate.”
Right now, we are all nothing but lumps of coal, but someday, we will all be beautiful diamonds.