LOVE IS FOREVER

Today, we look at LOVE IS FOREVER. It is the final "F" word in our section of the workshop on Remarriage. You have walked along beside me as I have given you my perspective on remarriage. Now I want to share with you Sharon's perspective on our twenty-six years of marital bliss and challenges. After all, there are two perspectives in a marital relationship.

Sharon's initial comments were written on the occasion of our second anniversary. This is followed by her remarks after twenty-five years of marriage. How blessed I am to be married to such a sensitive loving lady. (Her comments are found on pages 176 - 177 in my book)

Dearest Wonderful Husband

It seems so hard to believe we've had two years of marriage already. I want to savor our time together, so I hate to see it flow so quickly. I remember writing you a letter on our last anniversary and thought it might be nice to do again. I remember listing the worries and concerns I had to overcome when we got married. Funny, you know I don't recall what they were.

All my memories are of the contented moments of this past year - moments spent at your side or in your arms. I bask in your love and the wonderful way you accept me with all my shortcomings and eccentricities (even pretending I don't have any). How can I tell you how much I love and appreciate you? That beyond my loving you as I do, I see you as a man to admire, be proud of, respect ... whose value is "far above rubies."

Of course it is possible I may be highly prejudiced, but I believe I married one of God's finest. I know many people get married with "stars in their eyes" and then reality sets in and the glow wears off. I know usually couples have to undergo a "period of adjustment." Why haven't we experienced this? I guess the Lord just matched us so well that we didn't need it.

I do know I love you even more than on our first anniversary or even our honeymoon. Sometime I still have trouble believing how beautiful our marriage is. I remember
your telling me about your list of 'what you wanted in a wife." Have I ever told you that I didn't even know what a good husband was like? I didn't know enough to even make a list.

But God has shown me, through you, what His list is like, and I love the example. We have had a good full year this last year-blest with each other's love, good health, good friends, material goods, and even travel "adventure!" How good God has been to us!

My cup truly "runneth over." I don't know what the Lord has in store for us this next
year. It has to be for good. As we are told, we'll just have to trust, won't we?

I am not so afraid of losing any of my earthly possessions (I've been poor before). I only pray we never lose our love for each other. All the "things" in my life could be gone tomorrow, and as long as you were with me, it would be bearable. On the other hand, if you weren't at my side, the "things" wouldn't mean a thing!

Wonderful husband; my friend, my lover; half of "my flesh"; please forgive my not always being alert to your needs and not always being the wife I'd like to be. You never make me feel I've let you down, yet I know there must be times.

I love you so very, very much. Thank you for another wonderful year of being your wife.

Sharon

It has been twenty-five years since I wrote this letter to Don. As you can tell from what he has written in previous chapters, we have had many challenges to our marriage. These outside forces and health problems have only strengthened our marriage.

During the ensuing years, the things I said in my letter have deepened in meaning. We have parted with many of our earthly possessions. We have gone from owning a lovely home to renting a much smaller apartment.

The ravages of mold, chemicals, pesticides, etc., have compromised our immune and
central nervous systems. Other major health conditions have taken their toll upon us.

Yes, things and health have disappeared, but we are still husband and wife, friends and lovers. While our flesh is no longer as strong as it used to be, we are still one flesh in Christ. It seems like the older and weaker we become, the closer we are bound together in love.

It is my sincere prayer that those who read this book may experience the joy and love Don and I have shared. We can tell you from experience that Christ and His Word truly can make divorce and remarriage beautiful in His time.

Sharon Cunningham

Yes, dear friends, the experiences I share with you in my book and in this workshop are true. Men and women can have no more blessed experience than to be married to spouses who share their love unconditionally. Such has been Sharon and my experience.

The beauty of LOVE described by Paul in First Corinthians Thirteen is like a beautiful rainbow, with many facets, that shine forth in an enduring LOVE relationship! May you share the beauty of that rainbow of love in your marriage.

I would like to conclude with a poem that I wrote to Sharon on our twenty-sixth anniversary.

The spark that kindled it came from a lady who was coordinating a photo shot of Sharon and me. We were seated gazing romantically at each other. Just as the photographer took the photo the lady said to Sharon, "My husband would die for your LOOK OF LOVE." Hence, the poem was born. I hope you enjoy it.

YOUR LOOK OF LOVE

Your look of LOVE through fair blue eyes.
Tell all it's me you idolize.
Displayed in other ways it's true,
Your Love you show in all you do.

Your look of LOVE flows through my soul,
It makes its very essence whole.
It looks within my loving heart,
Its treasures there it doth impart.

What are these treasures that unfold?
They are finer than purest gold.
Bright HOPE I see within your eyes,
To earth you've brought me paradise.

A Princess true with servant's hands,
You see my needs, meet their demands.
I need not ask for anything,
You always treat me like a king.

So now your LOVE I will extol,
In brokenness you made me whole
The life I live bathed in your LOVE,
Like flowing fountains from above.

Ears that listen to what I say,
Words of wisdom you send my way,
Your lips so soft with honey flow,
Clearly reflect your inner glow

Embodied in that special look,
Are stories that could fill a book.
Of faith, of life - vitality.
I Love your creativity.

Your look of LOVE enraptures me,
And it will glow eternally.
Implanted by our loving Lord,
Always by me you'll be adored.

I LOVE your LOOK of LOVE!!

HAPPY TWENTY-SIXTH ANNIVERSARY!

HUGS, IN CHRIST’S AND MY LOVE,
DON February 14, 2007

May you experience that "Look Of Love" in your remarriage.

In the weeks that follow I will be relating some of my HUG experiences. I hope you will join me in the wonderful world of HUGS. Remember You Are HUGGABLE! I’m sending you one now, catch it and give yourself a hug for me.

Hugs, In Christ's and My Love,

Don E. Cunningham, Author © 6/10/07 1277