I have to admit that Valentine’s Day is pretty lame in general, but I do like the idea of having an extra opportunity to be creative in expressing my love and affection for my honey bucket.
I love the feeling that I get when I’m inspired to do something innovative or thoughtful for Ann. I love surprising her and she loves surprises. There is nothing in the world quite like the experience of being in love and coming up with wild ideas to show your endearment to the one that you love. Sometimes during the course of our relationship I have not felt like going the extra mile. Actually lots of times. However, when I fight my flesh and start organizing an idea the inspiration eventually comes back. I do love loving Ann, it just seems hard to get it started sometimes. I am always stoked when my plans come together. I am learning that being thoughtful about expressing your love is essential for having a wild love story. It always amazes me but it’s the little things that seem to give Ann’s love tank the most juice.
In Ephesians 5 and Revelation 21 God talks about us Christians being His bride. In a lot of ways this is hard for me to connect with. As a kid I would hear this by my Sunday school teacher and imagine myself in a fat wedding dress and high heels…yuk! Recently with all the wedding planning, for the first time, some things are making more sense about being the bride of Christ.
Please over hear what God is teaching me.
As the Bride of Christ, God wants to lavish His love and affection on me. He wants to take my breath away. And He has. I have so many experiences in the mountains where God has left me in a state of absolute wonder at His creation. A double rainbow at sunset in the Wind River range of Wyoming or seeing a bear and three cubs walk out into the open on grassy hill in Alaska. I have been so blessed. God also blesses me by placing the most incredibly interesting people in my path. I am amazed at the folks that God has sent my way. I have the best friends than anyone in the world can have. When I get overwhelmed in my life I sometimes lose my sense of wonder and appreciation for His gifts. As the Bride I need to become dependent on those moments of awe and anticipate them with the same enthusiasm that Ann had when she went out to check the mail today. (it’s Valentine’s day)
Being the bride is a beautiful things. It’s something that I need to embrace, meditate on, and live out. Rescuing, fighting for, and loving a bride are easy concepts for me to grasp but I must also open my heart to being rescued, to being fought for and to being loved as a bride. I must learn to respond to God’s advances and lean into his pursuit just like Ann leans into mine.
Dear Jesus, I accept your gifts of love and affection. Help me to bask in the light of your unfailing love. Overwhelm Ann and I with wonder and awe. Open my heart to your intimate pursuit. May I provide such care for Ann as my bride as you have offered to me. Make me as romantic as you God.
