Learning to Truly Love
The scriptures say that God designed and created marriage as a good thing. It is a beautiful, priceless gift. He uses marriage to help us eliminate loneliness, multiply our effectiveness, establish families, raise children, enjoy life, and bless us with relational intimacy. But beyond this, marriage also shows us our need to grow and deal with our own issues and self-centeredness through the help of a lifelong partner. If we are teachable, we will learn to do the one thing that is most important in marriage - to love. This powerful union provides the path for you to learn how to love another imperfect person unconditionally. It is wonderful. It is difficult. It is life changing. You must explore and demonstrate genuine love, even when your desire is dry and your motives are low. The truth is, love is a decision and not just a feeling. It is selfless, sacrificial, and transformational. And when love is truly demonstrated as it was intended, your relationship is more likely to change for the better. You have the responsibility to protect and guide your heart. Don't give up and don't get discouraged. Resolve to lead your heart and to make it through to the end of a journey that will take you to exciting places. Learning to truly love is one of the most important things you will ever do for enhancing your marriage (A few added thoughts with The Love Dare, introduction). I believe there is room for improvement in every home where there is the bond of marriage. Look at yourself, and don't (always) point the finger at your spouse. There is a bit of selfishness within each being; with some individuals more than others. Giving yourself totally to the control of God will bring changes into your own life and will guide you into loving your mate through grace, without criticisms and judgments. Only God can empower you. Only God can do for you that which seems impossible from your perspective about life under your roof. Experience loving your mate through the eyes of God, and you'll experience a new way of loving with your own eyes wide open to the beauty of what marriage is meant to be. Sherry