Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Proverbs 3:3-4 (NIV)
Let Love Never Leave You
This past Christmas season, an infamous 15-metre-tall Christmas tree made a return at a department store in Canada – and horrified many. Woody – a giant tree with a robotic face –returned to the Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. People who see the tree either love Woody or think he is downright creepy. The interactive holiday decoration has big lips which move when it speaks, and curly lashes that bat. He disappeared for 15 years but returned for Christmas 2021.
***
Keeping a marriage fresh and alive takes work. I’ve been married over 45 years and I can attest to this. A good marriage is a constant commitment to small and large acts of love, compassion and grace. I often ask couples whose marriage has fallen on challenging times what they did when they first met that caused them to fall in love, and when did they quit doing that? King Solomon noticed this as well, and wrote this in Proverbs 3:3-4: “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” In all of our relationships, those of us who follow Jesus are called to faithfully express His love to others. The love of Christ through us must never leave us. As we love others with the love of Jesus, He is honoured and all of our relationships will flourish. It isn’t always easy – that kind of love cost Jesus His life. But as we love faithfully, even those who oppose the things of the Lord will take notice.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley