Smitten with Helen Crump, after she disciplines him for being unruly, he declares to her, in his distinctive mountain accent… "I luuuuv you! I luuuuv you!"
Of course, Helen runs to Sheriff Taylor, who eventually convinces the wild-eyed mountain man that his feelings for Miss Crump are due to her appearing to be a "muther figger". J
Although there are so many great things you can bring out about that whole episode, since it's Valentine's Day, I want to talk about "luv".
Love, according to Merriam-Webster, means strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties; a person's adoration of God; unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another.
According to the Bible, love is patient and kind. However, it is not jealous, boastful, or arrogant. Love does not behave inappropriately, does not insist on having its own way, and is not irritable or resentful.
Those two definitions definitely fly in the face of how people use the term "love" so flippantly.
We proclaim it, we fall into it, we share it, we lose it, and misuse it.
I love my nail polish
…I love your hair color
…Don't you just love these potatoes?
…Everyone loves chocolate!
I love to play soccer…
He loves to go hunting…
We love our home…
They love to eat out.
When I see what the Bible says about love, I have to ask myself if my closest relationships—with my spouse, my children, my parents—are characterized in that definition. Sadly, I would have to say…not always.
If you were to ask me if I loved my family, of course I would say yes; but what do my actions say? We all know that our actions speak louder than our words. I can say "I love you", but if my actions are impatient, unkind, jealous, arrogant, improper, selfish, angry, or resentful—then I am not displaying love.
In that same chapter of 1 Corinthians 13, it goes on to say, love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in truth.
This Valentine's Day would be a perfect time to reaffirm my love for my husband, my children, my family, and my friends.
In loving my husband, I want to be committed to serving him as I promised on the day we were married; to reverence and honor him whether I'm sitting beside him talking about our secret plans for our life together or I'm speaking in public to a group of ladies.
In loving my children and grandchildren, I want to adore them and make them feel special; to encourage them and support them in the wise decisions they make concerning their lives.
In loving my family and friends to whom I'm emotionally connected, I want to show them respect and to value opportunities I have to spend with them.
But most of all, in loving the Love of my life, the Savior of my soul, I want to walk in a way that would bring glory to him; to show how grateful I am that he gave his sinless life as a payment for my sinful life by dying on the cross and rising from the dead so that I may someday spend an eternity in his presence.
My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree;
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
I'll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I'll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
William R. Featherston, 1864
Happy Valentine's Day everybody!
3 comments:
Great blog. What a wonderful song, also.
What I got out of this is... You and your husband have secret plans? Like robbing a bank or something??? ;)
I enjoyed reading this! A challenge I needed. Thanks for sharing :)
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