Despite their advanced years, they look into each other’s eyes and still see the allure of the one they grew to love oh so many years ago. They’ve never lost sight of that love and have kept a “til death do us part” mindset.
He lovingly wraps his arms and blanket around his wife to protect and shelter her. Her arms are touching and embracing him back.
They drink from the cup of their love for one another and are truly satisfied. They are as one.
Mike and I have been married since 1974. He’s the only man I have ever known and I the only woman for him. It hasn’t always been easy to love each other. There were times it would have been easier to allow ourselves to drift apart and live separate lives. But we both knew this was not God’s plan, and so we made the choice years ago to focus on seeing each other through God’s love lens.
God's Love Lens
Absolutely not! When He looks at us, He views us through the lens of the cross, (1 John 4:9,10) the ultimate demonstration of love. His view of us is that of a redeeming love. Something He has purchased at great cost.
We tend to view things through the tainted lens filter of our past, how we were raised, our life experience. God’s filter, on the other hand, is pure love because that’s His very essence. “God is love.” I John 4:8b
During those times when Mike and I are at odds, I’m reminded to look through God’s love lens and look for ways to redeem the situation, to demonstrate God’s attribute of love. I’m not to cringe, withdraw or withhold my love because I feel I’ve been wronged in some way, even though, sad to say I have at times done those things.
God's Picture of Love
And then He directed the Apostle Paul to write down the words that would describe the picture, much like I tried to describe the picture above. You can find that description in the great love passage, 1 Corinthians 13.
God’s picture of love was demonstrated on the cross. It’s now up to me to live love out daily. Otherwise, life will profit nothing, and my words and actions will sound like a noisy gong or clanging cymbals.
I have a choice in which picture I choose to take when I respond to my husband. I can use words and actions that reflect God’s love, or I can nag and argue and stomp away angry and be like clanging cymbals.
God’s Photo Album of Love
What are the pictures my husband is capturing of me? Does my husband see Jesus in me?
God’s Photoshop