I read a quote the other day:
"Love is everything it's cracked up to be. That's why people are so cynical about
it...It really is worth fighting for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you
don't risk everything, your risk even more." -Erica Jong
It really got me to thinking...How many of us who truly know the love of Christ actually live this way? Do we live like this amazing love, this love that transcends time and space, is worth fighting and risking everything we can possibly lay on the table? In my mind, and hopefully in my life as well, love is a huge theme. Before I came into a relationship with Christ there was such a deep lack of love within me that I only had contempt and hatred for myself and all those around me. Now I can say that I know Him, that I've come to know this awesome love, but do I fight for it? Do I risk everything for it?
I've heard so many statistics that show that we as Christians still do not understand what love is really all about. The divorce rate in the church is the same as in the world. Do we understand how much that says? I was young when my parents got divorced(they've remarried since, remarkably) and I've seen my friends' parents go through divorce. Not one person enjoyed it. The pain it causes runs down the generations.
We go into marriage not understanding love, not understanding what a marriage is, not knowing the commitment we are making. How precious are the three words we blurb off so easily to one another. Those words were meant to mean more then what we have come to believe. Today "I love you" is said as easily as "see you later", how has this happened? I understand letting people know how much you care about them, but why say it unless you understand the meaning of your words? In my case, I'm saying so much more then "I care", I'm saying "I've written your name on my heart. Your face will never leave my mind. Your words mean more to me then you could ever realize. You are precious to me. I see a side of God in you. I see what wondrous pieces of Himself that He placed in you, whether you know it or not."
I say all of this and mean every word, but regardless of how deeply the feelings may resonate within me: I am fallen. I am as far from perfect as a person can be. I make mistakes daily. As passionate as I am about the subject of love and it's importance, I am still capable of hurting. It is a painful truth, but it is what it is. All we have are the reminders of what love can be. No matter how close a husband and wife are, they will argue about something, be annoyed with one another, and find a way of hurting each other, whether intentional or not. Regardless of how close two friends may be, their friendship may end. Family can be close, but it can grow apart. I only say all this because I know and have seen what can happen.
The best part of all this is that it doesn't have to end here. The end does not have to be at the argument, or with pain. That's the point of this quote: we keep fighting for it. We keep going for love. When I hurt my friends, when I make mistakes, I realize, and I admit it and ask for forgiveness. No matter how corrupted this world can be, or a person can be, Christ still stands, so love still stands. There's no need to end in pain, no excuse.
"Love is everything it's cracked up to be. That's why people are so cynical about
it...It really is worth fighting for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you
don't risk everything, your risk even more." -Erica Jong
It really got me to thinking...How many of us who truly know the love of Christ actually live this way? Do we live like this amazing love, this love that transcends time and space, is worth fighting and risking everything we can possibly lay on the table? In my mind, and hopefully in my life as well, love is a huge theme. Before I came into a relationship with Christ there was such a deep lack of love within me that I only had contempt and hatred for myself and all those around me. Now I can say that I know Him, that I've come to know this awesome love, but do I fight for it? Do I risk everything for it?
I've heard so many statistics that show that we as Christians still do not understand what love is really all about. The divorce rate in the church is the same as in the world. Do we understand how much that says? I was young when my parents got divorced(they've remarried since, remarkably) and I've seen my friends' parents go through divorce. Not one person enjoyed it. The pain it causes runs down the generations.
We go into marriage not understanding love, not understanding what a marriage is, not knowing the commitment we are making. How precious are the three words we blurb off so easily to one another. Those words were meant to mean more then what we have come to believe. Today "I love you" is said as easily as "see you later", how has this happened? I understand letting people know how much you care about them, but why say it unless you understand the meaning of your words? In my case, I'm saying so much more then "I care", I'm saying "I've written your name on my heart. Your face will never leave my mind. Your words mean more to me then you could ever realize. You are precious to me. I see a side of God in you. I see what wondrous pieces of Himself that He placed in you, whether you know it or not."
I say all of this and mean every word, but regardless of how deeply the feelings may resonate within me: I am fallen. I am as far from perfect as a person can be. I make mistakes daily. As passionate as I am about the subject of love and it's importance, I am still capable of hurting. It is a painful truth, but it is what it is. All we have are the reminders of what love can be. No matter how close a husband and wife are, they will argue about something, be annoyed with one another, and find a way of hurting each other, whether intentional or not. Regardless of how close two friends may be, their friendship may end. Family can be close, but it can grow apart. I only say all this because I know and have seen what can happen.
The best part of all this is that it doesn't have to end here. The end does not have to be at the argument, or with pain. That's the point of this quote: we keep fighting for it. We keep going for love. When I hurt my friends, when I make mistakes, I realize, and I admit it and ask for forgiveness. No matter how corrupted this world can be, or a person can be, Christ still stands, so love still stands. There's no need to end in pain, no excuse.
