One last powerful truth about developing healthy relationships, especially in marriages. Each person involved must WANT TO love the other person. I have already said that we cannot force someone to love us, because that is not love. But in the same respect, we cannot feel obligated to love someone else because that too is not love. Love is a Free Will choice we decide to make. If I feel like I HAVE TO love someone, then I feel like I have no choice and my heart will not be fully in the loving actions I might be performing. I will just be going through the motions. But if instead I WANT TO love that person, then I am all in!
Again, in case you missed it, Love is a Free Will choice we decide to make. And of course, God’s Love is always our role model. Think about the way He loves us…and the countless ways He loves us…and the many times He loves us when we are being so very unlovable! We need to learn from the Master. We need to receive from our Jesus. Then we can give to those around us. This is a growing thing and so we need to consistently connect with God so we can grow and we can love, because Love is the ultimate goal in life, and certainly in our marriages.
Never forget the Golden Rule, as it is known. Matthew 7:12 makes it as simple as possible…it might not be easy for us self-centered humans, but it is so very simple. Love others the way you want to be loved: fully and freely. We are to make requests, not demands, from those we love, simply because we desire to be treated with that much respect ourselves. In the end, God is Love so as children made in our Father’s Image, we too should seek to love God with all we’ve got and love each other the way God loves us. These are the two greatest commandments per Jesus, and our growing obedience in following these, will lead to the Abundant Life we were always meant to have, enjoy and share.
Have a most blessed Sunday, and we will begin with our next book tomorrow, and it is about my favorite topic, spiritual growth. It is a small yet powerful one. Any guesses on which book? Leave a comment below and I will see you all tomorrow…
2023’s Got A Minute? Book Club
January: The Bible
February: “The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts” by Gary Chapman
<>< Peace, Diane
