And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love.
But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13: 13
Welcome to the blog! I’ve been praying for you, and am grateful that you are here!
This past month my husband and I celebrated our wedding anniversary. In many ways it seems like it was yesterday that I jumped out of bed and couldn’t wait to marry my high school sweetheart. Our love story began our senior year in high school, and having just completed my teaching degree, the big day had finally arrived. I felt like the luckiest woman alive.
We had a simple, yet traditional Catholic wedding. Everything about the day was beautiful; from our dear family and friends at our side, to the handpicked Liturgy of the Word. I will always remember the gorgeous gown I donned with a bouquet of daisies in my hand. But reflecting back, after forty-four years of marriage, it has been the reading from 1 Corinthians that has become part of our marriage creed.
As our relationship stretched and matured over the years, these timeless words kept the bar set high, though still ring true today: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records 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” (1Corinthians 13: 4-8).
Like other couples we have laughed and loved much, but have stumbled and fallen, too. Along the way I have learned the secret of life is to keep on going, always faithful to the Gospel message. In striving to put faith and family first, we renew our love daily and continually work at becoming the Christian couple of character and integrity that God has called us to be.
Reflecting on God’s Word as husband and wife, we look, listen, learn, forgive, and love with our hearts. Paul tells us to “Be completely humble And gentle, patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4: 2-3).
The Living Word tells me to take hold of the eternal life to which I am called. I firmly believe all relationships take commitment and sacrifice. In our giving, we have received the blessings of love, not just as husband and wife, but as parents, grandparents, and partners in faith as well.
This past year my husband and I planned an escape to celebrate at our favorite place a few short hours away, nestled between mountain vistas. Situated in a quaint New England town, our getaway destination boasts great hospitality, and manicured grounds. It offers everything from golf to swimming to walking trails, and is only a few miles from a rustic covered bridge, picturesque waterfalls, and of course stands of homemade goodies.
Although I anticipate our annual outings to these familiar landmarks, what I cherish the most is our anniversary evening when dressed to celebrate, we walk up the hill hand in hand. The hostess greets us, and leads us to our special table where we leisurely order, reminisce, laugh, and look forward to our next adventure, knowing that God’s got this and so do we. With each passing year I treasure this time more and more.
My sweet friend, hope, faith, and love can never be separated. May the power of God’s grace and forgiveness allow us to continually grow in His everlasting love.
Let’s pray.
Loving God,
Open my heart to feel the love and forgiveness I have received from you throughout my life. I am not perfect, and you love me anyway. Thank you for calling me to discipleship where each day I am given opportunities to make a difference in my marriage, my family, and in the world at large. Thank you for your comfort and direction I receive in prayer. May I remain focused on you, and may I always be worthy of your calling.
Your goodness assures me “wisdom will enter my heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to my soul” (Proverbs 2: 10).
“I praise you, Lord, with all my heart; before the ‘gods’ I will sing your praise. I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness” (Psalm 138: 1-2).
Thank you, O Lord.
Amen.
Until next time…
May the Spirit of God lead you, the Word of God sustain you, and the promises of God grant you the gift of everlasting peace.
Have a beautiful week, and celebrate your victories along the way.
All my love and blessings...
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For further reflection, think of a big day in your life. What did love have to do with it? Next, go to a time when a choice was made without the presence of love. What would you have changed? Start the conversation with me at sue@faithfirstwomen.com. Prayer requests always welcome.
To dig deeper into 1 Corinthians 13, Kim Sorrelle’s book, Love Is will be a great addition to your library.
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A portion of this reflection was taken from my book, Nourish Your Soul 7 Secrets for Women Seeking Peace.
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Author of Nourish Your Soul: 7 Secrets for Women Seeking Peace
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