Valentine Roses

We left the valley for the cabin on Saturday morning to spend a nice weekend in the mountains. To my great surprise when I opened the truck door to get in, there was a vase of roses and a sweet valentine card sitting on the center console. I have been so blessed to have a man who not only loves me, but is kind of romantic too. He does a much better job in that department than I do. He always takes the time to find just the right card. One that says what he wants to say to me. I on the other hand rarely go card shopping and when I do I get the funny, insulting or sexy/funny kind. I don't often buy him gifts for Valentines, but try to do something instead. Sometimes. I really think he's just glad I don't spend any money on anything. If the saying “opposites attract” is true, we are living proof. We often just smile a rueful smile when we realize how very different our personalities are. In spite of all that, we are happy. In church yesterday one of the talks was about “falling in love”. Also if it were possible to “fall out of love”. As the aspects of falling in love were categorized it sounded pretty easy to fall in love. When the possibility of falling out of love was discussed it was decided that it was a myth. After all the initial infatuation, if your love is to endure you must decide to stay in love. It is a choice, just as staying true in a marriage is a conscious choice. If we decide to put our own agendas second to our companion, selfishness will never erode the relationship. There is a balance that will naturally be reached if that is true of both of you. The marriages that make it through the years are way past the first love you feel when you become engaged and then married. It is made up of the sacrifice it takes to work on the decision to love always, through thick and thin and in righteousness. People don't fall out of love, they just decide it's not important anymore because the road got boring, and rough sometimes. They never make it past the exciting, new, “I can't live without you by my side” initial phase. They basically decide they are more important than you. The commitment to love through it all must be endured, refined and perfected through time. Fortunately we have eternity to work on that too. We'll need it.

Our Father in Heaven does not fall out of love with us. We are his children and receive his love unconditionally. Even if we don't deserve it. Even if we think we are so bad we are beyond it. No matter what we do. He never gives up on us. He stands ready and willing to bless us if we will just simply do our part. If the love I feel for my sweet husband is just a taste of the love that awaits eternally, it will be like nothing we can imagine here.

Now if we can just get that toothpaste tube and toilet paper roll under control, we are golden!