
Fred Allen said concerning a friend, “The last time I saw him he was walking down lover’s lane holding his own hand.” Such love is rampant, especially in Washington.
Today more is said about love than is practiced. True love is part romance, to be sure, and is often typed as romance as in the case of Boaz and Ruth. The story shares the care of the man for the woman by his making things easier for her, making certain others did not take advantage of her, caring for her family and giving himself to her. Along with his passion, compassion and understanding was woven into the fabric of their relationship. Their love was stronger than ethnic barriers and former loves.
Paul writes in Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” thus laying a test by fire at the feet of the husband to test the reality or lack of his professed love for his wife. Christ did not love His wife, the church, consisting of born again ones, because she made Him feel good about himself. He loved her, us, enough to give Himself for her. He, in effect, does not walk through life and eternity holding His own hand, but hers. He demonstrates letting go of self and embracing the one who is loved.
The poet said, “True love is a, many splendored thing.”
Copyright © 2013 Larry Lilly