Twisted, Backwards, and Upside Down

The world has made love an ugly thing. Just read the titles of today's popular magazines: "How to Get Everything You've Ever Wanted in Bed," "Get the Love You've Always Wanted," "How to Make Him Notice You." There is such selfishness, such twistedness, such filth represented in today's love, and it makes me sick.

Whatever happened to loving simply to love? Whatever happened to loving sacrificially, not expecting anything EVER in return? Our world doesn't understand such a love.

When people enter into relationships, it is easy to dream of all the romantic adventures, spontaneous gifts, and breathy conversations they'll partake in--and those things are likely to happen! But instead of fantasizing what YOU'LL receive out of the relationship, go back to where love started. Instead dream about the great bliss of loving another with a sacrificial, Christ-like love.

If my Bridegroom so wills my heart to love you, I want to sweetly give you the gift of my intimacy with Christ. I want to pray fervently for you and our ministry together. I want to share your passion for God, ministry, and life. I want you to know that I support you in ever decision, every change, every struggle. I want to gently respond to your love with sweetness, tenderness, and submission. I want to prepare your favorite foods and surprise you with what makes your heart smile. I want to support you, edify you, and encourage you to reach beyond normalcy. I want to build you up in our beautiful King. I want to remind you of my love often.
I want to be a reflection of both Christ's gentleness and His valiance. I want to write and play music for you. I dream of worshiping our God together with tear streaked faces. I dream of opening our doors to the streets and welcoming the least of these to our dinner table and our beds. I dream of washing dishes with a smile, giving you a loving look as you walk by, and playfully wiping suds on you when you embrace me. I dream of dancing with you in the kitchen and dragging you outside to jump in mud puddles. I dream of sitting close to you on a porch swing in the fall drinking cider and carving pumpkins. I dream of 3am conversations with you and shared sleepy kisses. I dream of waking you up with the music I made for you and letting Saturday mornings lazily lull on. I want you to know that you are free to be you, and being you makes our relationship that much richer. I want you to know that you are the one who catches my eye and makes my heart beat fast. I want you to know that even in all of these things, you don't have to feel the pressure that you are the one who fulfills me. I want you to know that the love I shower on you comes from God. I want you to know that even in your struggles, you are enough. I want you to know that I am entirely smitten by you, too.

How can I say this if we've never even met? I'm a dreamer, Beau.

It's funny how after you've sunk deep deep deep into a romance with the Maker of the stars you only have a deeper desire to give that love away.