While driving along in the car, my son giggles and laughs in the backseat with the innocence which only a child can give and who knows nothing of the pain this world will at times unpleasantly offer.
Seated next to me, my husband is silent and as I look over at him, I think, What happened to us? When did we get to this place where being with one another feels just like being alone. My mind drifts away from my son’s joyful laughter and deep into my contemplative thoughts and I wonder how this could have happened. Love isn’t supposed to hurt. Not deliberately.
Then I came to the realization that… some people will never be able to love you the way you deserve to be loved because of the simple fact that they themselves don’t know how to love. Love is not just something you say. It’s not just a feeling. It’s not just words. It’s so much more …
God gave us many examples of love, but one that resembles my definition of love and marriage is this…
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
It may sound ridiculous to some, but I believe when two people love one another with the kind of love that goes far beyond just the physical attraction and resolves to give mutual respect, trust, and honesty, as well as making God the center focus of the marriage, then blessings will abound and unfold perfectly.
Happy marriages aren’t just made. It takes work and the willingness to surrender your lives, heart, and marriage over to Him. Then He can and will bless the marriage union in ways one could never have imagined.
This is why I love – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, because each time I read it I am reminded of — Selfless love… How beautiful to love and to be loved such as this.
TINA UNSELL SEAMON 