"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." -John 1:1
Valentine's Day has already passed more than a month ago but I still wanted to write something about love letters. It's one of those things that's not supposed to be outdated or tied up to just one holiday per year. Love letters should be a daily, favorite and an untiring hobby for people who are in love.
Yet I admit I'm not one of those romantic people who enjoy writing love notes. I love writing, period, but just not love letters. It's one of those things I don't quite grasp. How many times and in how many ways am I supposed to say I love you to my husband? What am I supposed to say in the letter that I can't say or I haven't told him already to his face? Is there anything else we haven't talked about at home, on the phone or during our time together that I can still put into writing? (Sigh.) I guess you think I'm a horrible wife. Maybe you think I'm one of those romance-killers roaming the earth. But I'm just not the romantic type. Sorry! Sad but true. And I'm so glad I married someone who doesn't mind my "anti-romantic" ways at all. I think he is even more relieved that I'm not a sucker for those romantic stuff since he's not too romantic himself either.
But wait, maybe we have to define what's romantic before I move on. Maybe what I consider as romantic is not romantic after all for other people? Maybe what I think as romantic acts are just ordinary gestures for some? The reason I'm saying this because I remember what our friends and family said to me on how romantic my husband and I are as a couple. I don't exactly know nor remember why they said that but I just shrugged it off as no big deal.
I'm glad they see us as romantic but after being married for 17 years (and counting! Thank God!), I believe that some of the passion that most people associate with love and romance have waned down a bit. I don't mean it to be necessarily bad at all because I know for sure that my love for my husband has never diminished after these 17 years. It has actually matured and deepened even more. I don't equate passion with love. With pure love there may be a resulting deep passion, but with deep passion, love may not necessarily be present.
When my husband was still courting me, he used to send me bouquets of flowers at my job which was enough to give income to a flower shop for a week. That memory still makes me smile but I don't wish for those flowers anymore especially considering how much they cost! Besides, flowers wilt after a few days and then what? Talk about killing a "budding" romance. Ha. Yes, I've become more practical and thrifty not because I don't like flowers but because I know that my husband loves me and he doesn't need any flowers to prove it anymore. More importantly, we are raising a family. There are much more important expenses for us right now.
I'm writing about love letters but all I'm giving you are proofs of my being unromantic. How depressing is that? I do apologize but I just wanted to show that even I, with all the best intentions in the world and the love that I have for my husband, cannot bring myself to write any love letters.
I'm so glad and thankful that my Father in heaven took time to "sit-down," take an ink pen and paper (figuratively) to write to me the most wonderful, enduring, honest, truthful, loving, wise, infallible and living "love letters" of all time: His Word, the Bible. There's nothing more I need from Him. God has already poured out His heart, mind, Spirit and His whole being into that love letter. All I have to do is read, re-read and read it some more everyday for the rest of my life. Then I'll be fully nurtured, fed, loved, refreshed, confirmed in my love for Him, equipped, rebuked and corrected, convicted and burdened about His purpose and be blessed all the time. I don't have to be a romantic to know and to understand God's perfect love letter for me, and for all of you!. Thank you, Lord!
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." -2 Timothy 3:16-17
Valentine's Day has already passed more than a month ago but I still wanted to write something about love letters. It's one of those things that's not supposed to be outdated or tied up to just one holiday per year. Love letters should be a daily, favorite and an untiring hobby for people who are in love.
Yet I admit I'm not one of those romantic people who enjoy writing love notes. I love writing, period, but just not love letters. It's one of those things I don't quite grasp. How many times and in how many ways am I supposed to say I love you to my husband? What am I supposed to say in the letter that I can't say or I haven't told him already to his face? Is there anything else we haven't talked about at home, on the phone or during our time together that I can still put into writing? (Sigh.) I guess you think I'm a horrible wife. Maybe you think I'm one of those romance-killers roaming the earth. But I'm just not the romantic type. Sorry! Sad but true. And I'm so glad I married someone who doesn't mind my "anti-romantic" ways at all. I think he is even more relieved that I'm not a sucker for those romantic stuff since he's not too romantic himself either.
But wait, maybe we have to define what's romantic before I move on. Maybe what I consider as romantic is not romantic after all for other people? Maybe what I think as romantic acts are just ordinary gestures for some? The reason I'm saying this because I remember what our friends and family said to me on how romantic my husband and I are as a couple. I don't exactly know nor remember why they said that but I just shrugged it off as no big deal.
I'm glad they see us as romantic but after being married for 17 years (and counting! Thank God!), I believe that some of the passion that most people associate with love and romance have waned down a bit. I don't mean it to be necessarily bad at all because I know for sure that my love for my husband has never diminished after these 17 years. It has actually matured and deepened even more. I don't equate passion with love. With pure love there may be a resulting deep passion, but with deep passion, love may not necessarily be present.
When my husband was still courting me, he used to send me bouquets of flowers at my job which was enough to give income to a flower shop for a week. That memory still makes me smile but I don't wish for those flowers anymore especially considering how much they cost! Besides, flowers wilt after a few days and then what? Talk about killing a "budding" romance. Ha. Yes, I've become more practical and thrifty not because I don't like flowers but because I know that my husband loves me and he doesn't need any flowers to prove it anymore. More importantly, we are raising a family. There are much more important expenses for us right now.
I'm writing about love letters but all I'm giving you are proofs of my being unromantic. How depressing is that? I do apologize but I just wanted to show that even I, with all the best intentions in the world and the love that I have for my husband, cannot bring myself to write any love letters.
I'm so glad and thankful that my Father in heaven took time to "sit-down," take an ink pen and paper (figuratively) to write to me the most wonderful, enduring, honest, truthful, loving, wise, infallible and living "love letters" of all time: His Word, the Bible. There's nothing more I need from Him. God has already poured out His heart, mind, Spirit and His whole being into that love letter. All I have to do is read, re-read and read it some more everyday for the rest of my life. Then I'll be fully nurtured, fed, loved, refreshed, confirmed in my love for Him, equipped, rebuked and corrected, convicted and burdened about His purpose and be blessed all the time. I don't have to be a romantic to know and to understand God's perfect love letter for me, and for all of you!. Thank you, Lord!
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." -2 Timothy 3:16-17
Really good post.
ReplyDeleteHi Mara; I've been writing something where I called the Bible a love-note from God to man, so this post is very topical for me; great minds think alike hey?!
ReplyDeleteReal love is something far more than the initial spark of passion, that initial spark of attraction; real love is the type that understands, accepts, is concerned, and is far broader even than the highest romantic love. And looks fade when we age, so we can't base love on that either! Love is consideration, love is practical and pragmatic. God's love concerns the whole human race, and our love equally should be holistic and for everyone, as much as is humanly possible anyway.
As God loves us, we should try to love other people, even those people we might not particularly like too much! Yeah, it happens. If we can love those we don't really like, how much more a blessing is love for those we do like, and even love?
It's true love that lasts, that doesn't change because someone loses their money or status, that love that goes beyond looks and attraction, that love that ultimately comes from God Himself.
As I read your reluctance to write love notes to your dear Hubs, I kept thinking how you probably have a better-than-average understanding of the average American male! A lot of the poor things who buy flowers and flowery cards, I do believe, are doing it out of a sense of obligation... and fear? So good to understand each other on that, and just love. Meanwhile, we already do have the best love letter of all time, yes.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your thoughts! Yes, love matures and deepens and we understand our mates in quiet, sure ways that go beyond pzazz and fluff. It helps for my husband and I to talk about how or if we will celebrate special days or anniversaries, but I still like surprises now and then. :) I'm so glad God chose to tell us of his love by writing it down.
ReplyDeleteBlessings.
I love this post. I think we're on the same page when it comes to writing love notes but, like you, I'm so glad our Heavenly Father wrote his love notes that have encouraged and inspired people down through the ages. Thank you for sharing these inspiring thoughts.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Charlotte