Here is a heart warming story in which a man realizes how much his wife really loves him.
One day this man overcame his fear of rejection and decided to ask his boss for a raise in salary. It was Friday. He told his wife that morning what he was about to do. All day the man felt nervous and apprehensive. Late in the afternoon he summoned the courage to approach his employer. To his delight, the boss agreed to a raise.
The man arrived home to a beautiful table set with their best china. Candles were lighted. His wife had prepared a festive meal. Immediately he figured that someone from the office had tipped her off! Finding his wife in the kitchen, he told her the good news. They embraced and kissed, then sat down to a wonderful meal. Next to his plate the man found a beautiful lettered note. It read: "Congratulations, darling! I knew you'd get the raise! These things will tell you how much I love you."
While on his way to the kitchen to get dessert he noticed that a second card had fallen from her pocket. Picking it off the floor, he read: "Don't worry about not getting the raise! You deserve it anyway! These things will tell you how much I love you."
Total acceptance! Total love. Her love for him was not contingent upon his success at work. In fact, just the opposite. If he were to fail there, if he were to be rejected by his boss he'd be all the more accepted at home. She stood behind him no matter what; softening the blows, healing the wounds, believing in him, loving him. We can be rejected by almost anyone if we're loved by one. ~ Dr. Joeseph Harding
COMMENTARY
That truly is a heartwarming story. The wife's actions display the kind of love our heavenly Father has for us. It is a love that is unconditional. God loves us no matter what! When we succeed, when we fail. When we make the right choices and when we make the wrong choices. It matters not to God if you are talented, beautiful, smart, successful or any of the other myriad of so called essential qualities that many deem necessary to make one valuable or loveable.
In the dictionary loveable is defined as; of such a nature as to attract love, deserving love. God's love does not agree with that definition. For God loves all, even those that do not seem deserving of love. Yes He even loves those who are not of such a nature as to attract love. Do you?
We must strive to understand this love, receive it and share it with others. How is it that you love those that matter most to you? Do you only love them when they are loveable? When times are good? When they are treating you how you want to be treated? What about when times are bad, when they don't treat you right, or when they fail or make mistakes. If you only are loving when the other deserves it, it is not true love. It conveys the message that, "I will only love you when you meet my standards." True unconditional love is not like this. It loves in good times and in bad times. It loves you when you are strong and when you are weak.
The sad thing is that many feel that this is how God loves them. When they sin, make mistakes, or fail they feel as if they are no longer worthy of God's love and that He is turning away in anger. This couldn't be further from the truth! "Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when were dead in transgressions, it is by grace you have been saved." ~ (Ephesians 2:4-5). The best definition I have ever heard of God's grace is undeserved mercy. You see God accepts us as we are, even when we are at our bottoms or our lowest points He stands there with His arms of love just waiting for us. True love yearns for the other's best.
“Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained”
~ C.S. Lewis
APPLICATION
This story is about love and one of the best verses of Love can be found in 1 Corinthians 13. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
There are many definitions of love in those verses. Perhaps you are strong in some areas such as patience and kindness but you are easily angered and you keep a record of wrongs, always at the ready to bring up to your loved one when you feel they need it. I would suggest going through all these descriptions and find the areas you are weak in. Make it a conscious effort to better yourself in those areas even if it's just one at a time.
Always try to put yourself in the other's shoes. Ask yourself, "If I was them what would I want or need most at this moment?" Remember the golden rule, to treat others as you would want them to treat you. Don't wait for the other to do their part first either. Love is about initiating and giving. I remember a couple being interviewed on the news on Valentines Day. They had been married for over 50 years and were very happy. The reporter separated them and asked them both the same question; "What is the secret to a happy marriage?
The woman replied, "That's simple, I treat him like a king and he treats me like a queen." Then she went over to the husband and his reply was, "That's simple, I treat her like a queen and she treats me like a king." They had come to understand that it was their job to initiate, and not wait for the other. Many in relationships today will wait until they are treated how they want to be until they will treat the other the way they want to be treated. The best thing about doing this properly is that you reap what you sow and your love and kindness will come back to you, just be patient.
Be forgiving! Jesus taught us that we are to ask God to forgive us the same manner in which we forgive others. Are you comfortable to have God forgive you as you forgive others?
Sadly there are cases out there in which you cannot simply say, "I forgive you, all is well." Cases such as abuse, infidelity and other acts of wickedness. There may be times when separation and professional help is needed. Even in these cases we are commanded to love and to pray for the other person. Even if they become our enemies. Jesus said, "You have heard it said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven...If you love those who love you what reward will you get?" ~ Matthew 5:43-45
I want to close with the image of the greatest act of love this world has ever known, Jesus on the cross. He had been falsely accused, whipped to the edge of death, his bloody beaten body was then painfully nailed to a cross. And what does He say, as he looks at those that did all this to him? " Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
When those that you love fail you or fail themselves learn to honestly say, "I love you anyways."
One day this man overcame his fear of rejection and decided to ask his boss for a raise in salary. It was Friday. He told his wife that morning what he was about to do. All day the man felt nervous and apprehensive. Late in the afternoon he summoned the courage to approach his employer. To his delight, the boss agreed to a raise.
The man arrived home to a beautiful table set with their best china. Candles were lighted. His wife had prepared a festive meal. Immediately he figured that someone from the office had tipped her off! Finding his wife in the kitchen, he told her the good news. They embraced and kissed, then sat down to a wonderful meal. Next to his plate the man found a beautiful lettered note. It read: "Congratulations, darling! I knew you'd get the raise! These things will tell you how much I love you."
While on his way to the kitchen to get dessert he noticed that a second card had fallen from her pocket. Picking it off the floor, he read: "Don't worry about not getting the raise! You deserve it anyway! These things will tell you how much I love you."
Total acceptance! Total love. Her love for him was not contingent upon his success at work. In fact, just the opposite. If he were to fail there, if he were to be rejected by his boss he'd be all the more accepted at home. She stood behind him no matter what; softening the blows, healing the wounds, believing in him, loving him. We can be rejected by almost anyone if we're loved by one. ~ Dr. Joeseph Harding
COMMENTARY
That truly is a heartwarming story. The wife's actions display the kind of love our heavenly Father has for us. It is a love that is unconditional. God loves us no matter what! When we succeed, when we fail. When we make the right choices and when we make the wrong choices. It matters not to God if you are talented, beautiful, smart, successful or any of the other myriad of so called essential qualities that many deem necessary to make one valuable or loveable.
In the dictionary loveable is defined as; of such a nature as to attract love, deserving love. God's love does not agree with that definition. For God loves all, even those that do not seem deserving of love. Yes He even loves those who are not of such a nature as to attract love. Do you?
We must strive to understand this love, receive it and share it with others. How is it that you love those that matter most to you? Do you only love them when they are loveable? When times are good? When they are treating you how you want to be treated? What about when times are bad, when they don't treat you right, or when they fail or make mistakes. If you only are loving when the other deserves it, it is not true love. It conveys the message that, "I will only love you when you meet my standards." True unconditional love is not like this. It loves in good times and in bad times. It loves you when you are strong and when you are weak.
The sad thing is that many feel that this is how God loves them. When they sin, make mistakes, or fail they feel as if they are no longer worthy of God's love and that He is turning away in anger. This couldn't be further from the truth! "Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when were dead in transgressions, it is by grace you have been saved." ~ (Ephesians 2:4-5). The best definition I have ever heard of God's grace is undeserved mercy. You see God accepts us as we are, even when we are at our bottoms or our lowest points He stands there with His arms of love just waiting for us. True love yearns for the other's best.
“Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained”
~ C.S. Lewis
APPLICATION
This story is about love and one of the best verses of Love can be found in 1 Corinthians 13. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
There are many definitions of love in those verses. Perhaps you are strong in some areas such as patience and kindness but you are easily angered and you keep a record of wrongs, always at the ready to bring up to your loved one when you feel they need it. I would suggest going through all these descriptions and find the areas you are weak in. Make it a conscious effort to better yourself in those areas even if it's just one at a time.
Always try to put yourself in the other's shoes. Ask yourself, "If I was them what would I want or need most at this moment?" Remember the golden rule, to treat others as you would want them to treat you. Don't wait for the other to do their part first either. Love is about initiating and giving. I remember a couple being interviewed on the news on Valentines Day. They had been married for over 50 years and were very happy. The reporter separated them and asked them both the same question; "What is the secret to a happy marriage?
The woman replied, "That's simple, I treat him like a king and he treats me like a queen." Then she went over to the husband and his reply was, "That's simple, I treat her like a queen and she treats me like a king." They had come to understand that it was their job to initiate, and not wait for the other. Many in relationships today will wait until they are treated how they want to be until they will treat the other the way they want to be treated. The best thing about doing this properly is that you reap what you sow and your love and kindness will come back to you, just be patient.
Be forgiving! Jesus taught us that we are to ask God to forgive us the same manner in which we forgive others. Are you comfortable to have God forgive you as you forgive others?
Sadly there are cases out there in which you cannot simply say, "I forgive you, all is well." Cases such as abuse, infidelity and other acts of wickedness. There may be times when separation and professional help is needed. Even in these cases we are commanded to love and to pray for the other person. Even if they become our enemies. Jesus said, "You have heard it said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven...If you love those who love you what reward will you get?" ~ Matthew 5:43-45
I want to close with the image of the greatest act of love this world has ever known, Jesus on the cross. He had been falsely accused, whipped to the edge of death, his bloody beaten body was then painfully nailed to a cross. And what does He say, as he looks at those that did all this to him? " Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
When those that you love fail you or fail themselves learn to honestly say, "I love you anyways."
J. Lawrence Finley
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