10-10-15

Today we celebrate our 23rd anniversary. We have no plans, no cards and no gifts. What we do have was taught on at our LIFE GROUP on Wednesday night and I'm more thankful to have that 365 days of the year than flowers today. We have AGAPE LOVE.

The Greek word agape is often translated "love" in the New Testament. How is "agape love" different from other types of love? The essence of agape love is self-sacrifice. Unlike our English word “love,” agape is not used in the Bible to refer to romantic or sexual love. Nor does it refer to close friendship or brotherly love, for which the Greek word philia is used. Nor does agape mean “charity,” a term which the King James translators carried over from the Latin. Agape love is unique and is distinguished by its nature and character.

There are hundreds of times I have asked Richard why he still loves me. There are so many times when he is patient, kind and giving to me when I can hardly stand myself! I have bad moody days, short temper days and just plain grouchy days. Richard always answers the same, "I choose to. I will love you forever." And that, for anyone who is reading, is how marriages stay not only together but are GREAT even 23 years in.  

I'm so guilty of thinking I don't "deserve" love, especially when I'm feeling bad about myself, and really, that's not giving Richard any credit. When I say that, it's putting our love in the same category as loving pizza, loving ice cream, or loving basketball. It comes and it goes. And that's NOT how agape love works.

Making this choice is not easy because our flesh and selfishness tell us we don't "feel" like it. But that doesn't have anything to do with agape love. Jesus demonstrated this best, "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

I'm so thankful today for a man who chooses to love me. I get in a funk so often when I don't "feel" like treating him kind, or sharing, or giving my best. He never does. He looks at me in love even when I'm looking rough. He treats me tenderly even when I'm shooting arrows out of my eyes. He serves me when I'm pouting and he gives even when I'm selfish.

I'm so very thankful for the CHOICE that God gives us to LOVE and that my man loves me this way.
Happy Anniversary Sweetheart.

Inscribed on the inside of his ring, and true today:

 1 Peter 1:22b

"...love one another deeply, from the heart."