LOVE.
It's a wonderful thing.
It can be a crazy thing too.
When I married Mr E our love was new and passionate and exciting and scary.
We had some very similar life experiences behind us, and we had life experiences so different we weren't even sure how we'd made it to the altar.
But LOVE got us there...
...and over the 26 years he has stood beside me as a caring and devoted husband it was LOVE that kept us bound in matrimony.
Was it easy?
Hardly ever.
Was it worth the challenges, the differences, the disappointments?
Yes.
LOVE is no longer what it was that day we committed our lives to each other before God, family and friends. LOVE today is something we value far more highly, it is deeply embedded in our motivation, responses and prayer for each other. It is a daily choice, a moment by moment grace and gift.
Our LOVE is no longer built on emotion, but on a solid foundation of many years standing together, shoulder to shoulder, facing triumph and tragedy, opposition and allies.
Our LOVE is a God-gifted grace.
My husband is not a Valentines Day kind of guy.
In fact, he thinks it's dumb.
My man believes every day is an opportunity to show the LOVE of a husband by how he honours and respects and cares for me.
Now friends, it's not easy loving me day in and day out. I am so far from perfection that the Lord is always, every moment, filing down my sharp corners and softening the hard places in my heart.
Yet my husband still loves me, despite my rough edges and imperfect nature, in fact he loves me more today that yesterday and way more than when we shared that first kiss as man and wife at the altar in 1991.
But you know the thing that blesses me the most?
How much I learn about LOVE, commitment, and staying the course despite many storms, from his example.
He's not perfect either.
And that's okay.
He taught me how to hang in there with an imperfect spouse, so the least I can do is show him the same honour and respect and LOVE he shows me.
You might like to stitch this free design for Valentine's Day, or maybe you just want to stitch it as a daily reminder of just how precious LOVE is and why that makes it something worth fighting for.
I fight for our LOVE with these weapons...
kindness
patience
encouragement
humility
truth
hope
respect
generosity
Sometimes I forget one or two or three, but it's not long before I notice my neglect and take them up again.
This little "LOVE Never Fails" hooped embroidery now hangs above my desk as a daily reminder that a loving marriage, a marriage which stands the test of time, is maintained by a deeper kind of LOVE than what I first thought all those years ago.
"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."
(1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
Maybe every marriage needs a reminder. Maybe not.
But it can't hurt.
Bless you heaps,
25 comments:
A lovely stitchery and inspiring words again Jenny. Thank you.
Beautiful words.....
Beautiful. Thank you.
Beautiful. Thank you.
This is gorgeous, thank you. I have printed out the design. x
Precioso!!!!!!
Querida Jenny! El versículo del corintios es uno de mis preferidos, y lo leemos a menudo con mi hija Florencia! Gracias por recordarmelo hoy. Mi marido tampoco le interesa san Valentin, años atrás me sentía frustada, pero con los años lo entendí de otra manera. Gracias por el diseño. Cariños!
My favourite verses, thank you.
What a beautiful design and beautiful reminders of how love changes throughout the years. Thank you, Jenny, this is such awesome stitching and what a nice thing to remember. Your words are so precious to so many.
Hello Jenny; As always, I love every stitchery you share with us! This one will definitely be printed and made by me, once for myself and once for each of my daughters. It will take me time, but with reading the words from your heart, I realized that this is something that would help so many young wives after a first argument or after a night of waiting with the food getting cold on the table and those horrible thoughts that begin to go through our minds, when he walks through the door to only discover he came across an auto accident and had to stop and help until the ambulance could arrive. How sorry he was that he did not think to call you, but he was so scared for the people in the accident. So once again Jenny, Thank you so much for your Blog Post that touches my heart, the lovely pattern that I know I will make and share, plus above all your words the whole way through full of truth and ending in the Lords Scripture. I really got a lot of love and learning out of your post today! I hope that you and Mr.E continue to grow in love each and every day for another 20 plus years or more!
Something that I think we understand better later in life is that love is a choice. After the first rush of love that gets us to the altar, it is so easy to "fall out of love" when all the "new" has worn off. Yet we choose to love our spouse and fight for it with your weapons of kindness, patience, encouragement, humility, truth, hope,
respect, and generosity. And it is a choice we get to make every minute of every day! You are so wise, my dear! And I am so glad you share that wisdom with us!!
Your pattern comes at the right time. We buy each other cards and a little candy and that's nice. But, there needs to be a reminder when things are rough and bumpy. This is perfect to hang as a reminder that love is more than just a feeling. Thank you so very much!
That is really a lovely reminder that you've stitched, Jenny. Thank you for the free pattern. I have a scrap of very old lace and some lovely old linen that I bought from an op-shop that I could use to make one. Meg:)
Such a wonderful description of a very happy marriage!
Thank you once again, Jenny, for both your free pattern, and more so for your encouraging words.
Thank you, Jenny. So simple yet so full of meaning. Reminds me that God sent LOVE Himself to save me. Reminds me of the love of my husband who, being total care at the moment, grabbed my hand recently after my son and I showered him and said, "I appreciate everything you do for me." Love is an action word, starting with the One who shed his blood so that I could live. Bless you!
Thank you Jenny.
Thank you Jenny. I needed to hear this today.
Well said Jenny. You have written about what my husband and I have been discussing lately, that love is a choice. I have to agree with Mr E about Valentine's day. Too much pressure for a lot of men, although I usually make a special dinner for us.
You are to be admired with your fantastic example of marriage with its ups and downs. Love changes and evolves throughout the years and as we get older it is comforting to know that we have someone to share our life with. As women we can be strong and go it alone but our lives are richer if we share it with a partner who we can rely on. Your design is simple and sweet. Thankyou for sharing.
Oh Jenny how I love this gentle reminder stitched so sweetly. I will have to make it! Over the years, I've decided that love isn't so much an emotion as it is a choice - not a noun, but an action verb. We show love even when we don't feel love, by our choices, and that's why it never fails. Love this so much, and love you two so much. God bless you both!
Beautiful words and a beautiful embroidery to match Jenny.
Thank you for sharing this lovely project at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week. I'm delighted to be featuring you at tonight's party on Shabby Art Boutique and pinning too!
Hugs xxx
What a beautiful love story. I can feel the strength in your love for each other. I lost my husband after 33 years of marriage, it's been 26 years now since he has been gone. still miss him. Treasure your love and family. I love your blog. Thank you.
Thanks Jenny for your wonderful generosity.
Such a good scripture to be reminded of especially as the scripture emphasises that love is an eternal principle and therefore it should be the motivation for and in all that we do.
Happy birthday for whenever in February your birthday is. May God continue to bless you, Mr E and your family always
Kerrie
Thank you. I enjoy your newsletters and the fact you love the Lord Jesus. May He bless and keep you in His constant care.
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