(Week 7) Happy Valentine’s Day to Those Who Will One Day Hold My Children’s Hearts Forever!

Since my blog is an online journal of sorts, I thought it would be a great idea to log this letter for my future daughters-in-law and son-in-law.  Whoever these special people are, they are greatly loved; they have a future home to call theirs and another set of parents who love them unconditionally!

(Week 7)-Happy Valentine’s Day To Those Who Will One Day Hold My Children’s Hearts Forever

Dear future wives of my boys and husband of my baby girl,

You probably did not know that you had another set of parents praying for you but you do.  You have been circled in prayer since the day the love of your life was born and although we may not know you yet, you have been knit into our hearts for years.

When you look at the picture above, you will see the bright eyes, childlike grins, and open hearts of the one God crafted just for you.  We have loved them, prayed for them, and cared for them and by the time you read this, the hearts we have felt beat all their lives will now be beating for you.

Those salty, silly, syrupy, sweet littles have been our greatest treasure.  The key to their hearts is deeply embedded in the heart of Christ; so if you are holding that treasure chest opener, you have gone straight to Jesus first and that is all we ask!

We thought it would be most appropriate to write you and our children this love letter on Valentine’s Day, since our babies will one day be your forever Valentines.

So here it goes:

We have taken the “Love Chapter” in 1 Corinthians 13 from the Message and we want to give you a glimpse of what it may look like to live this out.  We pray this blesses you and our children who are soon to be yours.

Love never gives up:

Say you are sorry;

don’t go to bed angry;

don’t throw in the towel;

listen, listen, talk, talk, hug, hug

and take “I’m done” off the table.

Love cares more for others than for self:

Notice what they like;

Ask what they need ;

Give what will make their heart sing.

Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have:

Don’t look around, comparison kills contentment.

Gaze at the gifts you have, gratitude will change any crummy attitude.

Love doesn’t strut or have a swelled head:

Look for the potential in others;

Serve those who are hardest to serve and serve when you least want to serve.

Choose humility and you will see those you love the most shine!

Doesn’t force itself on others:

Marriage is a picture of Christ and His Bride, the Church.  He offered sacrificial love but He never forced anyone to receive it.  Christ is the perfect example of a “gentle”man.  Offer sacrificial, unconditional love but never push your needs or demand respect.

Isn’t always “me first,”

Hold the door,

walk behind,

hold their hair back when they are sick,

celebrate their victories

and sit with them when they are sad and silent.

Doesn’t fly off the handle,

Count to 10 (maybe 20) before speaking when your face gets flush.

Remember the salty, smiling face in the photo above when you are less than joyful, (and we can add a photo from your childhood when we know who you are:)

Choose words carefully and when in doubt, just breathe.

Blurt out “I LOVE YOU” and don’t follow it up with a “BUT”

Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others:

Live with an ever-present appreciation for the grace God has given you; in the light of God’s grace and mercy, you will be blinded to the score that may have marked another.

Don’t bring up the past unless it is to cherish a memory or celebrate how far God has brought you both.

Doesn’t revel when others grovel:

Self-righteousness and self-pity are just 2 sides of the same coin.

Don’t aim to put them down when you may be right and don’t play the pity card to get them to beg for forgiveness.

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth:

Pursue your relationship with Christ above all else.  There is no greater joy than to grow in Christ individually and together.  You will produce a garden of Truth because you loved the ONE who loved you first.

Puts up with anything:

The toothpaste cap on the counter, the toilet paper roll upside down, piles of laundry, dust bunnies, unorganized cabinets, fender benders, dishes in the sink, taking the trash out, bills to pay etc… THE LITTLE THINGS

AND ALL THE BIG THINGS TOO!

Trusts God always:

if you don’t get the job, the house contract falls through, the pregnancy test keeps being negative, the death of a loved one, friends that betray, natural disaster, blindsided by wickedness etc…

Always looks for the best:

When it rains, look for the rainbow.

If you hit rock bottom, remember you are perfectly positioned to look up.

Believe they didn’t intentionally mean to hurt you,

missing your flight just gave you more time to say good-bye,

the interruption was a divine appointment

and the uncomfortable moments allowed God to refine your character to reflect HIM more clearly.

Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

When people ask you how long you have been married, you will say, “We were born married.”  Life before each other will be a faint memory, like a prelude to your real life. You receive a new identity and you become one in marriage.  This is another example of marriage reflecting Christ and His Bride, the Church.  When we are born again the life we lived before is but a faint memory, a prelude to our real life in Christ.  He gives us a new name and we become one with Christ.

Remember that this world is not your home so set your eyes on Heavenly things and not the passing things of this world.

Live responsibly, loving God and loving others.  Press on to know the Lord all the days of your life, for HE is more certain and better than anything of this world.  Seek God with all your hearts and HE will be found; draw near to HIM and HE will be near to you. You can bank on that!