Love Made a Marriage

50 years ago this month.  I had a quandry.  I had two women between whom I was deciding for life.  One became my wife, one did not.  It wasn't a youthful passion.  It was indeed a decision that took about 4 months, but there was a critical juncture on which the whole decision turned.  There were new translations of the Bible coming out.  One of them was called the New English Bible.  It was the translation that formed the Amplified Bible from which the quote below comes. 

I had been in a discussion with both "Girls" at one time or another about the meaning of this passage in a relationship and in a marriage.  I was reminded of it because Pastor spoke on this last night in Church (we have church on Tuesday nights in Chicago). 

As he did I remembered this time that formed the marriage I have  today. I write a lot about marriage because it matters to me. 

When I shared the New English translation of 1 Corinthians 13 with Peggy and the other young lady, I found one said, "YES that's what it must be like.  Love is like that".

The other wasn't sure.  Thought there was more to be said about that.  Thought there needed to be other considerations.  Didn't know if real love needed to be all that.

I married the former.  I don't know how life came out for the latter.  I suspect that unless she learned to love in a Godly manner.. her marriage might have been more difficult than would have been needful.

This is what true love looks like.  Still does

4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].