Its valentine’s day weekend. I had the privilege of going on a date with my wonderful husband. Oh, don’t worry. What I’m about to share will not make you blush. I’m not the type to kiss and tell. But, I can brag on my man, just a little.
For our date we went to a favorite spot for dinner, the same restaurant we went to on our first date and the evening we were engaged. After having crab cakes, my favorite, he took me shopping. And, even though I tried to subvert his attention to getting something new for him, he was not diverted. We shopped and he stood by while I tried on clothes, all the while telling me how beautiful I looked… and he suggested more stores, and there were chocolates and a stop at Target…. The list goes on and on! My husband took an entire evening, carefully planned, to show me how special I am to him and how much he loves me.
How do I know its love? Not because of all the stuff. Seriously, its not because of that, although its nice and all. It takes true love for a guy to survive shopping with a gal like me, make no mistake about it. And my man fits the bill… When I think of the Corinthians description of love, and Michael’s actions, they are very similar:
from 1 Corinthians 13:
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Look, anybody can make flowery statements of affection. But it takes a real lover to stand outside the dressing room of an indecisive woman; Encouraging her, not counting how many things she’s already tried on, complimenting when something looks well, searching for the right size when the millionth pair of pants still doesn’t fit. That pretty well covers it, doesn’t it?
That’s why Paul, before explaining true love, says very clearly that all the talk in the world means nothing without action:
(1 Corinthians 13: 1-3) If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
I am so grateful to be learning how to truly love and be loved. My husband is such a rare gift; he’s a man who is striving to love me with a Christ like love. It makes me long to love better and deeper. Thank you Lord for a beautiful Valentine’s Day.
daily portion 