WHAT IS LOVE, ANYWAY?

What Is Love, Anyway?
Today's message is from Germaine Copeland.

As the afternoon shadows melted into evening a young mother prepared dinner and then helped her children with their homework. The rest of the evening they watched television, then and the children settled into bed. With a deep sigh, the mother sat down with the latest novel, looking for the great escape. But painful thoughts intensified as she considered the perceived neglect by her husband—lack of money, no help with the house or the children.

The feelings of that long ago honeymoon had faded. She concluded that her husband no longer loved her. She thought, I have made the worse mistake of my life.

The next day she loaded up the children and a few clothes and drove to her parents’ home. Her wise mother listened with an understanding heart. As the days went by, the older woman introduced positive thoughts and ideas that displaced the negative image the young wife held of ­her husband.

Gradually, these words began to take root, and in the mind of the young wife she began forming a positive image of her husband. After one of the numerous phone calls from her husband, she loaded the children into the car for their return trip.

Today, in their retirement years this couple is enjoying their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Their relationship continues to grow.

What held this marriage together? It was not the love portrayed on television, in the theater, and in movies. Love is not about feelings; love is commitment. Love is a man and woman aligning themselves with one another. Keep Christ as the center of your marriage. Since the Holy Spirit has poured out God’s love into our hearts—let us love one another even as we love ourselves.

A marriage takes work: learning good communication skills (which includes listening), assuming responsibility, forgiving and appreciating one another. Pray together, make room for each other to grow spiritually, and be thankful for one another.