October 29, 2014
What's Love Got to Do with It?
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
What a person desires is unfailing love (Proverbs 19:22, NIV).
Friend to Friend
Brenda’s mother was a bitter woman. Nothing was ever good enough for her. In her eyes, her yard was never groomed well enough, her home was never clean enough, her décor was never refined enough, her husband was never affectionate enough, her jewelry never big enough, her friends never giving enough, her pastor never attentive enough, her heat never warm enough, her bank account never large enough and so on, and so on.
All her life, Brenda had been reminded that she wasn’t a good daughter. “You don’t come to see me as much as you should,” her mother said. “Joyce’s daughter gave her a big surprise party last week.” “Martha’s daughter made her curtains for her kitchen.” “Carol’s daughter takes her out to lunch once a week.” Feeling that no matter what she did, it would never be enough to satisfy her mother, Brenda gave up trying and tore up the ticket for the guilt trips. She refused to ride that train ever again.
Brenda’s parents had never enjoyed a good marriage, and after her father died, a new man came into her mother’s life. He wooed and won her heart, and they quickly became engaged. With this new love in her life, Brenda’s mother was a changed woman. The grass was greener, the sun was brighter, and suddenly Brenda was a better daughter.
“Oh Brenda, I just love you so much,” her mom gushed. “I feel like we are getting closer and closer all the time. You are becoming such a precious daughter to me.”
Brenda told me about this story and laughed. “You see Sharon,” she began, “I hadn’t changed at all. I still went to see her with the same frequency, called her about the same amount as I always had, and engaged in simple conversation that had been the norm our entire lives. I hadn’t changed a thing, but all of a sudden, I was a great daughter.”
“What do you think made the difference?” I asked.
"She was in love," Brenda answered. "But probably more than that, she felt pursued and desired. Bill told her she was beautiful and doted over her like a queen. That changed her entire perspective on life."
As Solomon observed, what each of us longs for is unfailing love (Proverbs 19:22). We dream of a love that will stay fresh and new every morning—a love that will never die.
When we understand that we have that love in Jesus, it changes our perspective on life. The sun shines brighter, the leaves wave greener, the scents smell sweeter, and the future is bursting with promise.
It changes everything.
Let’s Pray
LORD, thank You for Your unfailing love. I praise You that Your mercies are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness. Help me to see my world through the lens of Your love for me today.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Look up the following verses and note what you learn about God’s unfailing love for you today.
How does knowing that you are loved no matter what make you feel?
If you truly know that you have God’s unfailing love, click over to my Facebook page and let's celebrate! Leave a comment that says, "I am loved!"
More from the Girlfriends
Do you long to feel close to God but feel like there’s something missing? That you've missed that mysterious formula to make it happen? Do you have a glory ache—a persistent longing to experience God’s presence and working in your life, but you’re not quite sure how to make it happen? If so, my book, A Sudden Glory: God’s Lavish Response to Your Ache for Something More, is just for you. Join me in discovering how to erase the lines between the secular and the sacred and experience a deeper more intimate relationship with God than ever before. While you’re there, you can download a free chapter or watch a video book trailer.
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Originally published Wednesday, 29 October 2014.
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