I saw a lady in a restaurant the other day wearing a tee-shirt with a simple message. “I love my husband.” I had never seen a shirt like that before. Actually, what I am used to seeing is a message that is either male-bashing or insulting to men, including husbands. It made me think a lot about how husbands and wives treat each other these days. They sometimes readily display on a shirt or speak in private conversations with friends about their resentment and belittlement. Why is it that they forget how to be kind and polite to one another? Don’t they remember why they fell in love in the first place? Respect is sometimes one-sided, expected, but not returned.

Bill and I have been planning on going to see the movie “Fireproof” but haven’t had the opportunity yet. It is a story of a young couple going through some serious conflicts in their marriage. The husband is given a book to read and follow for 40 days to work on improving his relationship with his wife. The book was created for the movie and is called The Love Dare. We are reading that book together now and are enjoying the daily challenges to gently remind us of why we fell in love. There are many couples, even ones as old as us, who should accept the dare and read this book together, too.

God wants all of us to keep the love in our marriages and was not shy when he gave us specific rules to follow in His Book. The Love Dare starts with the basics, suggesting ways to show patience, kindness and understanding for starters. We are taking the suggestions seriously and enjoy the time we read to each other (only 3 pages a night) and discuss the plans for the next day. It is fun. Each day’s lesson begins with a scripture that is fitting for the unique aspect of love that is discussed. God’s design and purpose of marriage was so that we would not be lonely, we could establish families and grow old together facing the challenges of life in a partnership of change. If I may quote from the book, “This powerful union provides the path for you to learn how to love another imperfect person unconditionally.” Where have we heard about unconditional love before? This is a relationship that God blesses and wants to succeed.

We never forget that God is the head of this household and at the center of our love for each other. Now, who knows where I can get one of those shirts?

“Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7