Loving your spouse is a choice!

Sometimes I wonder how many times I must choose to love my husband. Will I ever just get to that point that it is no longer a choice, but rather a breath in my body that brings life? At times there is so much joy in waiting to embrace him at the end of the day, but most times my exhaustion pummels me before he even gets home. I have seen couples that have traded in their passion and love for each other for mommy and daddy costumes. They gladly run their kids here and there and speak cordially to each other, but simply for the sake of the kids. There is emptiness in their eyes when they look at each other. All but disgust oozes from their heart for their spouse because of letting too many conversations go unsettled and not letting down the busy guard to look to each other for comfort and support. When my days are harried and frantic, all I can do is draw up a guard and hang on so I won’t fall apart from exhaustion and discouragement. I find it so difficult to simply let down my guard to be vulnerable for my husband when I have been so busy disciplining and deciding all day long. I realize that nearly everyday I MUST choose to love and adore my husband and most importantly choose to let my guard down to love him and allow him to love me. The love in a marriage is tender and vulnerable. That doesn’t serve well in the harsh world that we are exposed to each day. We must trust God to protect us from the harsh world so that we can live with our tender hearts available to our husband, children, and friends. We must trust God to help us choose to tenderly love our husbands each day. Trust God to help you invest love and time into your marriage so that you can reap an abundance of love for a lifetime. James 5:7-11 states: “Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” I pray that God will show you ways to tenderly love your husbands and to put time into your marriage.