They’d been in the ER for
hours. Every so often Sandra would lean
over and kiss his searing brow as if to cool it, or maybe, to comfort
herself. Her husband, Geoffrey, was
clinging to life with a severe infection.
Sandra waited hopefully, feeling strangely euphoric as she reflected
on how lucky she was to have so much to lose.
He was her rock, her mystery, the love of her life.
Just yesterday, while sitting before a romantic fire,
Geoffrey picked up the stubby end of an indigo crayon and a ragged piece of
paper. He drew a hangman’s noose and the
dotted lines of a secret message. Sandra
grinned.
"Give up?" he mouthed, before filling in the
puzzle: “You complete me!” it read.
Sandra swept away the mess and snuggled in close. They’d been married for over 18 years. That meant she woke up beside him over 6,500
times. And whether one or both of them
rushed out the door with the kids or they savored the intimacy of their last
few horizontal minutes together, their mornings always kicked off the same way:
with a kiss and synchronized “I love
you’s!”
They discussed everything – especially
the hard stuff. They trusted each other completely;
assured that neither would abandon the other in the face of anger, conflict or even
sickness.
Sandra placed her lips again to
Geoffrey’s sleeping forehead and felt a welcome coolness. She sank deeply into the armchair. Tension that’d robbed her of rest melted
away; her prayers answered.
Successful couples don’t have a magic formula or aren’t
simply better matched. They keep their
eye on the prize – a loving relationship, by constantly working at nourishing
their marriage. They never take each
other for granted, always blessed by the wonder of their union. They’re slow to anger, quick to forgive, and
leave no tracks of resentment.
God wants us to experience the same kind of relationship
with Him. Those who know Him have a
sense of desperation for fellowship with Him. He’s not simply a priority; he is the
priority. God wants us to trust, admire
and love Him with every cell in our bodies just as we might feel with our
closest human relationships.
Perhaps the most profound unity we can have with God is when
we share His work. Whether that means praying for someone He loves, leading by
His example, or bringing a message of hope to someone who’s been wounded, there
is nothing like doing God’s will on earth.
Lord, take me deeper. I don’t know how to worship You like Mary did,
but I want to learn. I want more of You
in my life. I want You to be the object
of my affection and all my devotions. Amen
