Dare 10: Love is unconditional. If someone were to ask you, "Why do you love your husband?"--what would you say? Women would probably say something about their husband's good looks or personality. They'd commend him for his steadiness and consistent character. They'd say they love him because he's always there for them. He's generous. He's helpful.
But what if over the course of years, your husband stopping being every one of those things. Would you still love him? The only logical response would be no. If your reasons for loving your husband all have something to do with his qualities--and then those same qualities suddenly or gradually disappear--your basis for love is over.
The only way love can last a lifetime is if it's unconditional. The truth is this: love is not determined by the one being loved but rather by the one choosing to love. This is God's kind of love. He doesn't love us because we are lovable but because He is so loving. If He insisted that we prove ourselves worthy of His love, we would fail miserably. But God's love is a choice. Unconditional love will not be swayed by time or circumstance.
The Dare: Do something out of the ordinary today for your husband--something that proves that your love is based on choice and nothing else. Do a chore for him or make his favorite dessert. Demonstrate love to him for the sheer joy of being his partner in marriage.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. I Corinthians 13:7.
2 comments:
When I was a newlywed, I would hear/ read about married people falling in and out of love. I did not quite understand this at the time. The longer I have been married, the more I believe this to be true. Life brings so much stress ... kids, jobs, finances, illnesses ... Without commitment it is easy to 'fall out of love' with your spouse. You both have to be committed to your marriage. I guess that is why people of our parents’ generation stayed married for so long. Divorce was not an option. Society and churches did not approve of or allow for divorce. I am not sure if that was good or bad, but at least people felt they had to work at their marriage.
The verse from Corinthians is one of my favorites. The associated verses from Chapter 13 are frequently read at Catholic wedding ceremonies. My sister read it at our service. My husband and I have read it for numerous relatives at their ceremonies.
J
I think the premise of love is why so many marriages fail these days. If we can't learn to work with our spouses as they change and we change we are doomed.
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