By Karin Fendick, Inspire Contributor
GOD has called us to love Him and to love each other. It doesn't seem like such a hard task, yet in the day-to-day troubles of our earthly dwelling place, we can forget this simple request that Jesus made of us:
"This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you." John 15:12 KJV
That covers love of all mankind, but I'm thinking here of love between a man and his wife:
"Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband." Ephesians 5:33 KJV
Does it take grand gestures to show our love for each other? I suppose that gifts are nice, everyone likes receiving something special. Public declarations of love can warm a heart, bring tears to one's eye. But what adds up to real enduring love is the small touches.
Take a moment to pray with - and for - your mate, bonding the two of you to the Lord. Find your own special words and phrases that would mean nothing to anyone else, but display a wealth of love between just you two.
I have heard so many wives and husbands as well who set conditions:
"If you loved me, you would___." If you loved me, you would buy me a bigger house. If you loved me, you would cater to my every whim. The "blank" has been filled out in so many ways.
It is a running amusement in our home when either my husband or I say "If you love me, scratch my back." You know how sometimes an itch you cannot reach can drive you nuts? Just knowing that my husband will stop whatever he may be doing to help make me feel better says more than he will ever know. It's one of many ways that we cherish each other.
We keep the fire in our marriage by recognizing He who placed us in each other's path, by taking hold of each other's hand and thanking our Lord.