Love Day: Day 15
LOVE IS HONORABLE-
** Following extract totally written by the Kendricks: Stephen and Alex
There are certain words in our language that have powerful meanings. Whenever these words are used, an air of respect is associated with them. These words never lose their timeless quality, class, and dignity. One of these will be our focus for today. It's the word honour.
To honour someone means to give them respect and high esteem, to treat them as being special and of great worth. When you speak to them, you keep your language clean and understandable. You are courteous and polite. When they speak to you, you take them seriously, giving their words weight and significance. When they ask you to do something, you accomodate them if at all possible, simply out of respect for who they are.
The Bible tells us to honour our parents and those in authority. It's a call to acknowledge the position or value of someone else. Honour is a noble word.
This is esp true in marriage. Honouring your mate means giving him or her your full attention, not talking to them from behind a newspaper or with one eye on the telly. When decisions are being made that affect both of you or your entire family, you givo your mate's voice and opinion equal influence in your mind. You honour what they have to say. They matter- and because of the way you treat then. They should know it.
But there's another word that balls us to a higher place, a word that isn't often equated with marriage, though its relevance can't be understated. It's a word that actually forms the basis of honour- the very reason why we give respect and high regard to our husband or wide. That word is holy.
To say your mate should be "holy" to you doesn't mean that he or she is perfect. Holiness means they are set apart for a higher purpose- no longer common or everyday but special and unique. A person who has become holy to you has a place no one can rival in your heart. He or she is sacred to you. A person to be honoured, praised, and defended.
A bride treats her wedding dress this way. After wearing it on her special day, she covers and protects it, then sets it apart from everything else in her closet. You won't catch her in it when she's washing the dishes or going to town. Her wedding dress has a value of its own. In this way it is holy and sacred to her.
When two people marry, each spouse becomes holy to the other via holy matrimony. This means no other person in the whole world is supposed to enjoy this level of commitment and endearment from you. Your relationship is like no other. You share physical intimacy with only her, only him. You estab a home with your spouse. You bear children with this person. Your heart, possessions, your life itself is to be wrapped up in the uncommon bond you share with this one individual.
Is that the way it is in your marriage? Would your mate say you honour and respect them? Do you consider them set apart and highly valued? Holy?
Perhaps you don't feel this way, and maybe for good reason. Perhaps you wish some outsider could see the level of disrespect you get from your wife or husband- someone who would make your mate feel embarrassed to be exposed for who they really are behind closed doors.
But that's not the issue with love. Love honours even when it's rejected. Love treats its beloved as special and sacred even when an ungrateful attitude is all you get in return.
It's marvellous, of course, when a married couple are joined in this purpose, when they're following the biblical command to be devoted to one another in love, when they're giving preference to one another in honour. See Romans 12:10. Hebrews 13:4 further reminds us that marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure.
But when your attempts at honour go unreciprocated, you're to give honour just the same. That's what love dares to do- to say, Of all the relationships I have, I will value ours the most. Of all the things I'm willing to sacrifice, I will sacrifice the most for you. With all your failures, sins, mistakes and faults- past and present- I still choose to love and honour you.
That's how you create an atmosphere for love to be rekindled. That's how you lead your heart to truly love your mate again. And that's the beauty of honour. :)
TODAY'S QUOTES-
1Pe 3:7, Jer 30:19
TODAY'S DARE-
Choose a way to show honour and respect to your spouse that is above your normal routine. It may be holding the door for her. It night be putting his clothes away for him. It may be the way you listen and speak in your communication. Show your mate that he or she is highly esteemed in your eyes.
TODAY'S REFLECTION-
How did you choose to show honour? What was the result? What some other ways you could demonstrate honour go the coming days?
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