love. grandpa. grandma. c.s. lewis. jesus.

When I was home for Christmas break I spent the day with my grandparents. I just did their daily routine with them. Went to the YMCA where my grandma Dorothy leads water aerobics. While my grandpa patiently sat outside and did crossword puzzles...

I know this scenario doesn't seem that romantic but, lately, the Lord has been slowly teaching me glimpses of true love. True love is romantic yes, so romantic, but it is also everything that my grandparents have. My grandpa daily and consistently drives my grandma to the YMCA and waits patiently outside. While my grandma makes sure that grandpa sticks to his vegan diet so his blood sugar doesn't get too high while were out at applebees. If this is not love I don't know what is. Choosing to make sure that the other person has the best they can have. Choosing to lay down selfish comforts to make sure the other person is comfortable. Choosing to passionately kiss one another after 50 years together. Choosing to take up their cross so that the other person doesn't have to...

As C.S. Lewis puts it so well:

'Love is selflessly choosing for another's highest good'

If we want to see true love we look at the cross. A mighty Man comes and sees a beautiful bride that he wants to wed to Himself, but He is too holy and good to be with such a wayward wife. So their must be a sacrifice. He lays down His own life, so that His bride can be His for eternity...

oh if we could even slightly mirror this type of passionate-selfless love in our modern marriages, how beautiful it would be...

And Your heart beats in mine
Once again You show me paradise
And all that it holds
for it is light that makes everything visible.
"Awake, O sleeper, rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
behold You are making all things new
You cause my heart to gaze on You
as a faith-filled child
You cause my soul to smile
In the midst of pain
You’re the Truth and Life
And the Way
Deep calls to deep at the sound
of Your waterfalls;
All Your breakers and Your waves over me have rolled
and yet You command Your lovingkindness in the daytime
And Your song is with me each night
You are the God of my very breath and life.
You daily remind me of the day
You bore my sin and pain
That I would use to spit in Your face
Yet Your eyes shine on me with grace
and You call me Your beloved
tell me I’m beautiful and lacking of nothing
Purer than the whitest snow
Righteous I know
You’re love oh God has set me free
Your Son made me what I was meant to be
now Your heart beats in mine
and once again You show me Paradise...