This year, I made a goal to live with more intention-—to find ways to spend my time, my money, and my gifts more wisely.
It’s so easy for us to fill our lives with so much stuff that we leave little room to serve others, to dream our dreams, to make art, to love well.
This month our focus is love. C.S. Lewis said of love,
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless–it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”
It’s your turn. Tell us about your broken, beautiful love!
I remember using that quote after you posted it a while back. It’s one of my favorites now. I’m so glad you shared it.
I don’t have anything to link today, but I found where I used the quote on my blog:
http://itwasbroughtonbylove.blogspot.com/2010/07/lifes-lessons.html
Maybe next week I’ll be ready.
I was 36 when I finally met “him.” I had known for ever so long that I was made to be a wife and a mother and a homemaker – not just the Naval Officer that I was. I remember making a conscious decision, born of life’s trials, that I would be vulnerable with him and 100% me. If he didn’t like that person, then God would give me the patience and the stamina to wait a little longer. When I nearly 39, we married – during a hurricane. A story unto itself, it became a confirmation that God was with us in our decision to marry. Four years later, while working overseas, he had an affair. It broke my heart like nothing before or since. Mostly because we were best friends as well as husband and wife. I couldn’t believe that my friend had done this to us. God is greater than that which is in the world though. The thought of divorce never once crossed my mind; it crossed his, mostly as a result of his guilt and feeling like I deserved better. But I was planted, and I was going to grow where I was. I was not going to be moved, and I knew that the enemy was my enemy, not my husband. Four years later, I am still happily married, we’ve made it through (another) storm, and our relationship is solid. God IS good. The marriage He redeemed is a testament of His love, forgiveness and sacrifice. I still have my best friend and my husband, and he definitely still has me! Praise God!
Amanda – thanks for being vulnerable and sharing your story. I know that many women will find such encouragement by your faithfulness and your desire to fight for your marriage, even when so many others would say you had every right to run.
May the Lord grow your marriage even stronger in this new year.
I love it that broken & beautiful can be in the same sentence. It really is so true that in brokenness beauty arises and in such incredible love. Thank you for sharing this Edie!
~Sarah
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