The Glory of Love
Last week, my husband brought me roses just to make me feel special, roses and the makings for a favorite drink. I basked in my husband’s love.
Then we got in a huge fight. Hurt and anger on all sides. But in the midst of this hurt and anger, my husband wrapped his arms around me and told me that he loves me. I told him not to hug me if he didn’t mean it. He held me tighter.
That night my husband showed me both sides of his love, the romance that makes me feel special, and the unconditional love that holds me close even when we have both said hurtful things.
How many times have I stomped on God’s foot and He held me even closer?
I’m teaching at a retreat in February about the bride and bridegroom, about the Church and Christ, about our hope of the wedding feast, the kick-off to an eternity of peace and joy and harmony (and melody and rhythm…), about our responsibilities while waiting for our bridegroom, who has gone to prepare a place for us. Meanwhile, God continues to send us gifts to make us feel special, gifts in the form of springtime roses and winter sledding snow and backdoor friendships. And He continues to love us when I spit in His face, when, as the betrothed, I set my eyes on another groom, on the groom of a comfortable life or writing or music. This is our love story.
That’s the story of, that’s the glory of love.
8 comments:
wow... what a guy well I mean you husband. God is, too.
I didn't imagine you as the type that says hurtful things. You need to work on that.
Trust me I'm not talking from a 'holier than thou' position on this one. I have spent years trying to stop that nasty habit and I'm finally starting to see some results.
Funny how things can change so drastically on the turn of a dime, huh?
Humans.
"Oh, the deep, deep love of Jesus...underneath me, all around me... is the current of thy love..." That's from my favorite hymn. I like how your husband demonstrated Jesus' surrounding love.
l.l., how did you know that that is my favorite hymn?
wt, yeah, i'm working on it. it's not that i mean to say hurtful things, and i don't just randomly call him names, but in a fight, people get hurt. learning to communicate slowly but surely. i still have a lot to learn.
b.w., i haven't worked it all out yet, but basically i think i'm going to start with the end and work backwards. so starting with the wedding feast, when the bridegroom returns to claim his bride. looking at the passages that compare the church to a bride (i.e. eph 5; rev 19), and then finishing with our responsibility as we wait (like the parable of the virgins trimming their wicks). stuff like that. haven't really started working on it, yet.
Heather--I did a Bible study that focused on this very area, and it was so enlightening. There's also a book, which might be a great reference for you. It's called Falling in Love with Jesus.
I think that being aware of the hurt that words can do is really the first step. God will help you to begin to suppress the words before you let them fly. That is beginning to happen with my kids.
Also--I responded to your comment on my messy room post. . . .
Ohhhhhhh yeah.
Amen, amen, amen. mmm mmm mm.
The glory of love-- that which treasures our glories and that which which treasures despite our uglies.
You've encouraged me to tell my own little story of love... involving a sink de-clogger. Thanks for the inspiration!
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