Wifey part 4
I ended yesterday's Rant with this verse, "Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 9:9). And that's pretty much all I want to talk about today. But let me render it in the Message Bible first, because it reads a lot easier. "Relish life with the spouse you love each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is God's gift. Its all you get in exchange for the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one!" And while this verse (and this Rant series) is kind of loosely about the husband/wife dynamic... partnership... relationship... I think what we need to get from this verse is that is is so important to spend your time on the things in life that are so important. And I've long and often said that there are only two things in the universe that are truly important: God and people. Loving God and loving people. Loving God BY loving people. Its all about love. And there is no higher form of love than giving your life for (and to) your friends. Friends, as Logan defines it, being family you choose. Or, even more excellently (because love is the most excellent way, right?), the people that cross your path. Remember Peter walking along, minding his own business, and healing that dude with his shadow? You can go out of your way for people. You should go out of your way for people. But you don't have to go looking for people to love. There are plenty of people in your life already that you can--and should--love. Didn't Mother Teresa say something along the lines of, "If you want to change the world, go home and love your family"? Charity starts at home. This is our portion in life: Loving the people God has placed in our life. Being good stewards over the things (people) we've been given charge over. And, listen, loving people doesn't mean controlling them. Love does not demand its (HIS) own way. Ever. Love endures. Love lets people be who they are and does whatever it (HE) can do to support them. Of course, this doesn't mean enabling people. Sometimes the only way to love someone is to tell them no. And that's ok. But the point I'm trying to make today is how important it is to pour yourself into those people in your life. Living joyfully with the wife you love. Relishing life with her each and every day. And if you don't feel that way towards your spouse, can I just say this? Maybe its not the right fit. Relationships are hard, but they shouldn't be a battle. Your home should be your safe place. Where you want to go, not where you need to escape from. You should want to spend time with those people. That's how kids (especially), and all people (really) spell love: T-I-M-E. Giving yourself. Giving your time. Being there for, and with, your family. That's what this life is for. That's what its all about. And, as we say in the Carter family, "Family is forever."