Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:7
Love endures all things.
For the last 14 days, we’ve looked at different attributes of love as described
by the apostle Paul. This last attribute reminds me that true loving
relationships are marathons, not sprints. They’re enduring, long-lasting,
strong. This is especially true—or should be—in marriage.
Our world would tell us that love is all passion, and when the passion dies, so
does love. Passion is a sprint. And it does ebb and flow. So if your focus is
on passion, you’ll hit the finish line and then think it’s all over. Thus the
tragic divorce statistics we see.
Love is so much more than passion. Love is intimacy—emotional, spiritual, and
physical. It's being there for your mate. It's loving him or her with patience,
kindness, without arrogance ... All those things we've been talking about.
Yes, Russ and I have been married 27 years, and believe me, there have been
times when passion has stagnated. There have even been times when I really
didn’t like what Russ did—and wondered “Who are you and what are you doing in
my house?” It was during those times when I chose to love him.
Russ is my best friend. He’s the one who knows me inside and out—and loves me
anyway. He’s the one who puts up with my bad moods (yes, I do have them
occasionally!), who supports my passion for ministry, who cooks yummy meals,
and whom I know will be there for me no matter what.
Our love has endured. If you’re married, please don’t listen to the
world’s lies. The grass really isn’t greener on the other side. It’s probably
just Astroturf—a facsimile of the real thing. And if you aren't married yet,
but hope to be some day, remember these words. Remember to focus on the
marathon, not the sprint
Choose to love your mate. Love, honor, and cherish, even through the difficult
times, even through those times when your mate just isn’t lovable.
Run the race. Finish the marathon.
Endure.
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