Love Is A Decision
I was in a bookstore a long time ago and saw a book entitled Love Is A Decision by Gary Smalley. Admittedly, I did not buy the book and I have not even checked it out from the library but I have thought long and hard about the title. Tonight, as I reflect on the sermon I heard in church this evening, I am yet again thinking about this book and the truth behind the title.
Just to give you a quick rundown of the sermon, the minister was answering questions members had submitted to the church about the family. He spoke about the church's stance on divorce and its policy on divorced people remarrying. He spoke about raising children to be Godly adults. Finally, he spoke about rekindling the love in a marriage when the spark has dwindled. He said something that really stuck out in my mind. He said that God meant marriage to be "one man, one woman, one time."
That is a far cry from the way society and, even many mainstream Christians, feel about marriage. Divorce is accepted as a natural conclusion what was once sworn to be a "till death do us part" relationship. But then I look at people like my grandparents. July 1st of this year they celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary. Their marriage has been through a lot of bad times, ones that people from newer generations would have called it quits over, but they stayed committed to their marriage covenant and to each other. When there appeared to be no love there, they decided to continue loving each other. They knew that "love is a decision."
If you're a regular reader or one who has come looking for writings about disability rights/education, you're probably wondering why I'm talking about love. It's simple, people who are disabled need love too. The problem is that too many of us have closed ourselves off from others and do not allow ourselves to feel love for others or to be loved by others. We do this because of fear of rejection or because we are just downright positive that nobody could love us the way we are. Perhaps we think we are ugly ducklings or we that it would look like Beauty and the Beast if we ever went on a date. I can tell you from experience, until you allow yourself to receive love and feel love for others, you are missing about 99.95% of what life is about. The Scripture teaches that you could be the smartest, most good looking, richest person in the world but if you don't have love you have nothing at all.
Jesus stated that "Greater love hath no man than that he lay down his life for a friend." Then He did exactly that. He showed how great His love is for all of us by laying down His life for each and every person in the world. It wasn't until I allowed this love to invade my heart and soul that I was truly able to love others and to trust in the love of my wife and my friends/family. Since that time, the walls have been coming down and I've been changing from the inside out. I truly believe that such a change can happen in anyone's life if they just let the Love of Christ overwhelm them. If you haven't done that yet, then please made a decision to receive Christ's Love and His Grace today.
In His Love,
James Hart
Just to give you a quick rundown of the sermon, the minister was answering questions members had submitted to the church about the family. He spoke about the church's stance on divorce and its policy on divorced people remarrying. He spoke about raising children to be Godly adults. Finally, he spoke about rekindling the love in a marriage when the spark has dwindled. He said something that really stuck out in my mind. He said that God meant marriage to be "one man, one woman, one time."
That is a far cry from the way society and, even many mainstream Christians, feel about marriage. Divorce is accepted as a natural conclusion what was once sworn to be a "till death do us part" relationship. But then I look at people like my grandparents. July 1st of this year they celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary. Their marriage has been through a lot of bad times, ones that people from newer generations would have called it quits over, but they stayed committed to their marriage covenant and to each other. When there appeared to be no love there, they decided to continue loving each other. They knew that "love is a decision."
If you're a regular reader or one who has come looking for writings about disability rights/education, you're probably wondering why I'm talking about love. It's simple, people who are disabled need love too. The problem is that too many of us have closed ourselves off from others and do not allow ourselves to feel love for others or to be loved by others. We do this because of fear of rejection or because we are just downright positive that nobody could love us the way we are. Perhaps we think we are ugly ducklings or we that it would look like Beauty and the Beast if we ever went on a date. I can tell you from experience, until you allow yourself to receive love and feel love for others, you are missing about 99.95% of what life is about. The Scripture teaches that you could be the smartest, most good looking, richest person in the world but if you don't have love you have nothing at all.
Jesus stated that "Greater love hath no man than that he lay down his life for a friend." Then He did exactly that. He showed how great His love is for all of us by laying down His life for each and every person in the world. It wasn't until I allowed this love to invade my heart and soul that I was truly able to love others and to trust in the love of my wife and my friends/family. Since that time, the walls have been coming down and I've been changing from the inside out. I truly believe that such a change can happen in anyone's life if they just let the Love of Christ overwhelm them. If you haven't done that yet, then please made a decision to receive Christ's Love and His Grace today.
In His Love,
James Hart
posted by Amanda Brady | 12:27 AM
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