 |
August 4, 2011
The Moment |
"And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging symbol." 1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:1 (NIV)
So familiar can some of our relationships be, we forget. We rush. We assume. We feel like we have forever.
And feeling like we have forever cheapens the right now feelings.
Each morning I have a routine with my man. It's simple. Nothing profound. Nothing for which we'd ever stop and snap a picture.
It's just a moment.
He asks me to help him pick a tie. He then goes away to fuss with this fixture of his professional job. Soon, he returns with a flipped up collar and a pressed down, knotted tie. He needs gentle hands to fold the collar over. No, he doesn't need. He wants gentle hands to fold the collar over.
And I do.
It's just a moment.
But it's a moment we follow the excellent way mentioned in the verses above. And in the intersection of this moment we're establishing once again, "I love you. I love you too."
Now, please don't get an overly idyllic picture in your head of our marriage. Heavens, no. We have plenty of those "growth opportunity" moments too.
But this moment with the tie, it's like a spot of glue ever tightening the bond between us day by day. It's so simple and yet something I would miss with the deepest ache imaginable if today was the last of the moments.
If today.
Tears slip as I think about this. Dear God, help me think about this. Let me snap a hundred of these moments with the lens of my heart to be stored and appreciated and thought of as the great treasure they are.
Let my mind park there.
Let my heart relish there.
Let my mouth dare to whisper what a joy this is. "I love you. I love us. I love this moment each day."
No, our relationship isn't perfect. No relationship is perfect. We're two very strong willed people with vastly different approaches to life. And oh how easy it would be to list out all the differences. He likes the towel hanging in the same spot. I am more creative. But I stop the list here.
I stop because great love isn't two people finding the perfect match in one another.
Great love is two people making the choice to be a match.
A decision.
To fold his collar and snap the heart lens and find myself grateful to the point of tears.
Tears of relishing today are so much better than tears of what was missed.
It's just a moment.
Or is it?
Dear Lord, help me to appreciate each moment given to me. I want to park my mind on my daily moments I so often take for granted. Thank you for this joy so simple but so sweet. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
If you enjoy Lysa's devotions, you can sign up to receive daily notes of encouragement from her by clicking here. Just fill in your email address in the blue box on the right side of your screen.
Want more simple tips to improve your marriage? You'll want to read the marriage books Lysa has written — Capture His Heart (for wives to read) and Capture Her Heart (for husbands to read).
Lysa will be speaking in more than 40 cities this year. Click here to see her schedule. She would be honored to meet you.
When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity because your purchase supports the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide at no cost. We wish we could, but we simply can't compete with prices offered by huge online warehouses. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!
Application Steps:
What are your 'if today' moments? Discuss them with your spouse, family, and friends, and relish these occasions together.
Reflections:
Dear God, help me think about the teachings in this devotion. Let me snap a hundred of my moments with the lens of my heart to be stored and appreciated and thought of as the great treasure they are. Great love is two people making the choice to be a match.
Power Verses:
1 Peter 4:8, "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." (NIV)
Hebrews 13:4a, "Marriage should be honored by all..." (NIV)
© 2011 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org
Originally published Thursday, 04 August 2011.
SHARE
