Love Covers all Wrongs~

Yesterday we saw how it's loving the difficult and unlovable that gets us credit. We left off with the question, "Is it worth it?"

Consider this real-life story~ (Names have been omitted to protect privacy)

A beautiful young wife and mother started having difficulties in her marriage. Her husband became withdrawn and verbally abusive. She eventually found out he was seeing someone else. It devastated her completely, and she immediately considered divorcing him. No one would have blamed her, but she dug deep and remembered some life-changing truths she had learned about love. Love is not just butterflies in the belly and sweaty palms. Love is not just chewing each other's gum and slow dancing to every song Conway Twitty ever sang. Love is radical at times. So much so that it once compelled an innocent human being to carry a cross. So, rather than exercise her right to be angry, she, with the help of Almighty God, prayed this prayer:

"God, I do not have the ability to forgive this betrayal on my own. I do not even have the ability to love this man anymore. My pride is hurt, my life is ruined, my children will never be the same, and my dreams are over. But, since You live in me, rise up and take over and give me supernatural strength to love him and forgive him. In Jesus' name."

The reason I know about that prayer is because I was there when it happened. It's a powerful thing, people, to witness

1 Corinthians chapter 13 come to life! It truly was one of the most sacred moments I have ever witnessed. Side note: I will never forget the look on Hormone's face as he watched his bride, Lis, walk up the aisle, and I will never forget her radiant face as she looked toward her groom. It was sacred as well, but it was an effortless love.

When my friend prayed her prayer to love and forgive, it was a struggle. She could barely get the words out. But whenever someone puts their legitimate right to be angry and hurt aside for the greater good of reconciliation and forgiveness, that is truly something inspiring to witness. Now before you get all offended and say you would never etc...let's examine this further.

She could have chosen to pursue her divorce, and in fact, several of her happily married friends insisted she do so. "You can never trust him again!" they yelled. yada yada yada...

While all her buddies would most certainly experience being cuddled up in bed eating popcorn and watching a movie with their spouses, she would be all cuddled up with her pride. Pride, I am told, makes for a lonely companion.

Her friend's kids would have their dads at graduation, parties, weddings, but what about her? Her pride would be there, but maybe her ex-husband's girlfriend of the week would be there too.

One way to stop the erosion of her life and her children's lives was to put a stop to the madness by loving her husband. Did he deserve her love? No! Did she feel like giving it? H--E--Hockey Stick--Hockey Stick--NO!

But Proverbs 10:12 says that love covers all wrongs, all transgressions, and all offenses. So she called on the living God of her soul to empower her to do something she could not do, and thus began a day-by-day process of loving her undeserving spouse.

What does loving the unlovable look like? Why should we do it, and again, is it worth it? Mañana :)

PRAYER:
Dear Lord, It is amazing what we can do when You help us. In fact, Philippians 4:13 says we can do ALL things through Christ Who strengthens us. Strengthen us today with Your power and wisdom to do the right thing. In Jesus name, AMEN~