The Look of Love
Original Art by Octavio Ocampo. The endearing story behind this piece can be found at: http://gallery4collectors.com/foreveralways.htm
In honor of my son’s wedding in four days, I thought I’d write about love and marriage today.
I adore this picture. In it I see the look of love that never died, never went adrift, that has grown in intimacy over the years and has kept its focus. For me, this picture captures what it’s like to be deeply in love.
Despite their advanced years, they look into each other’s eyes and still see the allure of the one they grew to love oh so many years ago. They’ve never lost sight of that love and have kept a “til death do us part” mindset.
He lovingly wraps his arms and blanket around his wife to protect and shelter her. Her arms are touching and embracing him back.
They drink from the cup of their love for one another and are truly satisfied. They are as one.
Mike and I have been married for 41 years and five months. He’s the only man I have ever known and I the only woman for him. It hasn’t always been easy to love each other. There were times it would have been easier to allow ourselves to drift apart and live separate lives. But we both knew this was not God’s plan, and so we made the choice years ago to focus on seeing each other through God’s love lens.
God’s Love Lens
When God looks at us, how does He view us? Does He only see our faults and thereby cringing and withholding His love from us because we don’t measure up to His ideal?
Absolutely not! When He looks at us, He views us through the lens of the cross, (1 John 4:9,10) the ultimate demonstration of love. His view of us is that of a redeeming love. Something He has purchased at great cost.
We tend to view things through the tainted lens filter of our past, how we were raised, our life experience. God’s filter, on the other hand, is pure love because that’s His very essence. “God is love.” I John 4:8b
During those times when Mike and I are at odds, I’m reminded to look through God’s love lens and look for ways to redeem the situation, to demonstrate God’s attribute of love. I’m not to cringe, withdraw or withhold my love because I feel I’ve been wronged in some way, even though, sad to say I have at times done those things.
God’s Picture of Love
Two thousand years ago, God saw us through the lens of the cross and then snapped a picture and wrote under it, “This is what love looks like. Study it. Exemplify this kind of love.”
And then He directed the Apostle Paul to write down the words that would describe the picture, much like I tried to describe the picture above. You can find that description in the great love passage, 1 Corinthians 13.
God’s picture of love was demonstrated on the cross. It’s now up to me to live love out daily. Otherwise, life will profit nothing, and my words and actions will sound like a noisy gong or clanging cymbals.
I have a choice in which picture I choose to take when I respond to my husband. I can use words and actions that reflect God’s love, or I can nag and argue and stomp away angry and be like clanging cymbals.
God’s Photo Album of Love
Somewhere in heaven, I’m thinking God has a photo album filled with snapshots of His children demonstrating love to each other. Acts of kindness and love that have shown the world what true Christ-like love looks like in human form. (John 17:23-26) He lovingly turns the pages and points at the pictures, and I’m pretty sure I hear Him say, “Yes, I see the family resemblance!”
What are the pictures my husband is capturing of me? Does my husband see Jesus in me?
God’s Photoshop
My ability to love like He loves needs some work. I want to upload the image of my life into His Photoshop program and allow Him to take away the imperfections that don’t show the family resemblance. It’s the only way my relationships and my marriage will truly have the look of love.
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What a powerful message, Marsha. You are right, marriage is a commitment for life. There are bumps in the road, but we should always look to God to give us wisdom to navigate those bumps.
Thank you, Iris. I honestly don’t know how marriages survive without the Lord.
so very true, love you my friend.
Thank you, Sweet Friend.
Marsha, this is such a beautiful post. I hope you shared it with your son and new daughter in law. As a new wife I sure appreciate it.
Thank you, Bernadine. I’m humbled that it was helpful to you. I haven’t shared this with them yet, unless they saw it on FB when it was in my newsfeed. Now that the wedding is over I’ll be sure to ask.
And My the Lord continually be the choreographer of your dance, Bernadine.