A dirty four-letter word? I suppose in some vocabularies it has become a word to shun. Songs about heartache, cheating, and just how much love stinks top the charts. The angst some hold against such a small word can begin in middle school when you’re shot down by the pretty blonde or handsome jock. In some cases, a person can devote all their time and energy in one person, whether that person sees them or not. If you put your heart on the line you risk the chance of it being stomped on. That’s a fact of human nature. However, if all that relationship stuff has got you bummed about love, then please keep reading.
I’ve been known to have some hard crushes. I have wanted a guy to see me so badly, but when he finally did he didn’t see some gorgeous girl with a wonderful smile…he just saw me. That kept many a suitor away for years. I watched the prettiest girls in my class fall for the cutest guys in my class and the cutest guys fall for the prettiest girls. I went to dances, terrified someone would ask me to dance…but mean it as a joke. My fear was being all flattered, working up the courage to say yes, and having a bunch of people snickering as he revealed the cruelty of it all. I was fourteen before a guy expressed interest, and fifteen (almost sixteen) before I went on my first date. It was his first date as well and we both just floated into a relationship. Neither of us could really pinpoint where we officially began. It just sort of happened one day that I realized, "I have a boyfriend." Being inexperienced with relationships I made many mistakes. This guy took the place of God. Now, I don’t mean I worshipped him or deliberately put him before time with God. Winning and keeping his affection was the most important thing to me. Our relationship, at the cost of all others, I determined had to last. This drove an unhealthy wedge between God and me. When my boyfriend told me we needed to break up, something inside me snapped. I suddenly lost my identity. I was the psychotic ex-girlfriend following him around, writing him letters begging for a second chance, praying to God that He would fix it and shooting down anyone who got in the way.
I was bitter. I was heartbroken, and like a lot of people who have just faced such an ordeal I was convinced there was no one else for me. That was it! I blew it. I failed as a Christian and as a loving companion to the guy I valued so highly. It was a pathetic state to be in…wallowing in self pity and refusing to accept reality. I was about to give up on a thing called love, too. I tried to move past it and began to cultivate the relationship I was missing with God. Slowly, I let go of the pieces. It took me awhile to finally give it all to Him but I can finally say I am okay. My best friend, Ray, was there for me all along and he encouraged me as best he could. He put up with a lot of my mean-spirited-snaps during that time. I was grateful for his friendship and love. It was no surprise that we ended up dating. We are now married. I love him dearly. What is best though, is over the course of the past couple years, I’ve learned a lot more about love.
Love is not merely something romantic shared between a man and a woman. It can be the love of a friend, or of family. There will be times where your friends betray the trust you thought you had in them, but there is always someone who loves you. Even if everyone on this planet hated you, there is still someone who loves you. What is great about this love is, it won’t end. It encompasses all time. It is extended to every person. Some think it’s hokey, or a farce, but it is neither to me. For me, God’s love has changed me in so many ways. I’m actually trying to adopt the attributes God gave love in 1 Corinthians 13, instead of just reciting the verses. I’ve become a lot less quick to anger and better at forgiving. Through the love of my husband, God has revealed how much He loves me. My husband loves me dearly, so how much more does my heavenly Father! That is exciting!
I saw an msn name that says "Love is a rose without petals…only thorns." I have to disagree and I pray that if any of you share this take on love, that you will find true love in God. Jesus wore a crown on thorns upon His head. Blood trickled down his forehead. He was crushed under the hate of the people. The song Above All depicts Jesus’ love in a beautiful way…"Like a rose, trampled on the ground/ You took the fall/ And thought of me/ Above all."
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