Back in November 2011, I wrote a post about the difference between doing things to win love and doing things through love. I felt God leading me to write an updated version, especially relating to marriage for this Marriage Month:
___________________________________
If I love
my husband to win love, I feel resentful, cheated and justified in angry words
when he doesn’t respond in the way I hoped.
If I love
my husband through love, I am able to truly love, no matter how he responds or
how long it takes for him to receive that love.
If I seek
to affirm my husband with words, to win his love, I feel rejected and hopeless
when he doesn’t receive them.
If I encourage
my husband through love, because he’s my brother in Christ, I can keep going
until those seeds take root and grow.
If I offer
to look after the kids so my husband can have some extended time off or a
lay-in, to win his love, then I expect him to be grateful and to return the
favour.
If I choose
to serve my husband, through love, just because, God fills me to overflowing and
His grace and smile is sufficient.
If I put on
a nice dress to win his love, I feel silly and childish if he fails to
notice.
If I dress
my inside consciously and my outside confidently through love, my smile is not
dependent on his, and I become attractive in a different way.
If I offer
advice or opinions to win love and affirmation, my pride is stung and I feel
rejected and upset if they are not heeded.
If I share
my prayerful thoughts through love, it doesn’t matter if they are heard or not,
the Holy Spirit has the responsibility to highlight any truth.
If I love
selfishly, it always disappoints.
If I love wholly,
and freely and vulnerably, God’s presence abides and transforms.
Oh, Lord, teach me to love like You!
No comments:
Post a Comment