When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now.
Insofar as I learn to love my earthly dearest at the expense of God and instead of God, I shall be moving towards the state in which I shall not love my earthly dearest at all.
When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed but increased.
C. S. Lewis, on how to love your spouse without being an idolator.
Cf. Augustine’s Confessions (XI.29):
He loves Thee too little, who loves anything together with Thee, which he loves not for Thy sake.
Source: thegospelcoalition.org
