Love is.....

For eight weeks my man and I have attended a Bible study focused on marriage oneness.

We have sat in a room with about 40 other couples and more closely sat at a table with three other couples all of whom have been married any where from under five years to upwards of 20.

Coming around a table of people who had never met each other, but who are now going to exchange answers regarding their "feelings" or "state" of their marriage seemed uncomfortable at best.

Lets face it, this marriage oneness course was covering everything from communication, conflict resolution, sexual intimacy and budgets.

Them there are some biggies! Even for the husband and wife to discuss never mind discussing it with strangers.

When we signed up for this class both my man and I looked forward to "attending". You know, just being there. Instead we were asked to be the table leaders. Not a daunting task, but still a task when I just wanted to attend.

There was something wonderful waiting for us in being the table leaders - three incredible couples and the journey the Lord has us all on with one common bond leading the charge.

God created marriage.

It is a gift and a treasure to be enjoyed every step of the way.

I learned that oneness is an ever moving circle. When it is moving in the right direction it is building upward towards the things the Lord has designed marriage to be. When it is spiraling downward it is still a oneness that is at work but not a oneness that brings us closer but one that makes us alone.

There is a beautiful definition the class gave for oneness,

"Oneness is soul level harmony of mind, heart and will."( Life Ready by Robert Lewis)

It equates to mind- common direction; heart- emotional connection; and will- mutual commitment between a husband and wife.

During these eight weeks we have done a lot of learning about ourselves.

We have always been committed but we had grown a little stale, you know, like that bag of your favorite chips. You'll eat them because their your favorite but you sure wished they were a fresh bag.

Every once in a while you need to splurge and make it fresh again.

Love is patient and kind and it does not envy or boast and it isn't proud. Love is not rude or self seeking. It is not easily angered or keeps records of wrong.

Putting these elements into practice in our marriage moves the marriage in the upward momentum of God honoring for Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth.

And the truth is that all of us want a marriage that is treasured.

Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres. Love never fails.

When marriages become stale at best or shattered at worst, love still hopes. Even when it runs out of faith love still holds to hope.

For a love that hopes refuses to take hardship or failure as final.

We can all experience oneness whether in our relationships with family or friends or in the context of marriage.

1Peter 3:8-9 Finally all of you be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one anther, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

 

Who of us couldn't use a little compassion or Love?

During these eight weeks I have been refreshed for the calling of being a child of God, wife to my man, a mom to my children and friend to friends.

Reaching for oneness is something that is a journey. By days and at moments it may seem out of reach and at other times it can be so rich that it takes you farther then you imagined.                                                             

 

                                                                           

                                                                         1Corinthians 13:4-8

                                                                   Love is patient, love is kind.

                                                          It does not envy it does not boast, it is not proud.

                                                                It is not rude, it is not self seeking.

                                                 It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong.

                                               Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

                                            It always protects always trusts, always hopes always perseveres.

                                                                          Love never fails