This is from my favorite love story in the Bible: Hosea and Gomer. It is a lesson in what love and forgiveness is all about. In this poem, the Lord is speaking about his people Israel, but it's a lovely poem, all the same.
When DB and I were to be married, a very wise, albeit very young, priest told us that marriage wasn't "50-50", but that each partner should give 110% without keeping score on the other. It took me quite a while to absorb that truth, but the older I get, the more I believe it. True freedom for me within this marriage came when I stopped worrying if I was GETTING my 110%, and concentrated on GIVING 110%. Of course this only works if the two people are truly committed, and if neither has deep problems such as addiction or abuse. Those pairings are not "relationships", but are "victim-ships". DB and I took communion to an elderly widow who was in a true, loving relationship. She is lively, inspite of health problems and legal blindness. She speaks lovingly of her husband, and looks forward to every day. She thinks she didn't need to live this long (she's 95), but she rejoices in her children, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. She "reads" with the help of the library's talking books, and keeps up with what is happening in the world. Within these physical limitations, she is still giving her 110%. DB and I came away with a new spring in our step after visiting with her. God Bless her!
Heavy thoughts for a winter day!
7:15 PM
The day started out to be another beautiful spring day, but by the time we left church, around 11:45, a strong wind had come up, and the rain began. The afternoon was rainy, occasionally heavy. The bulbs I planted yesterday got a good soaking. Thank goodness that the snow had already melted, and the creeks were flowing. There was less danger of ice jams and severe flooding.
and bring her into the
wilderness,
and speak tenderly to her.
And there I will give her her
vineyards,
and make the Valley of Achor a
door of hope.
There she shall respond as in the
days of her youth,
as at the time when she came
out of the land of Egypt.
And in that day,
says the Lord,
You will call me,
My Husband.
And I will make for you a covenant
on that day with the
beasts of the field,
the birds of the air,
and the creeping things of the ground;
And I will abolish
the bow, the sword, and war from the land;
and I will make you lie down in safety.
And I will betroth you to me
forever;
I will betroth you to me
in righteousness and in justice,
in steadfast love, and in mercy.
I will betroth you to me
in faithfulness;
And you shall know the Lord.
And In that day,
says the Lord,
I will answer the heavens
and they shall answer the earth;
and the earth shall answer the
grain, the wine, and the oil."
Hosea 2:14-22
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