ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU

Ralph Sorter

   “She loves me…she loves me not…she loves me…she loves me not” – as we pull the petals off of the daisy.  But it didn’t turn out the way we wanted, so we picked another flower and started over.

   All of us played the game when we were younger, but sometimes it still resembles our relationships – she loves me, she loves me not – up, down – on, off.  Don’t let your heart grown numb…pick another flower and start over…don’t leave the relationship in that state.

   It takes effort to keep a relationship healthy.  A good marriage is hard work.  Anyone can walk away from tension and strife, but the bigger person comes back and repairs the damage that’s been done.  The more you walk away, the more your heart grows numb.  But that’s not the case with your mate or family member…theirs is pulling away from you…isolating you…waning in their affection for you.  Keep it up and you will find yourself divorced from the relationship (sometimes literally).

   What’s my touchstone that calls me back to do that which honors the Lord?  The example of Jesus and His command to me as a husband.  No matter how many times I have let down my Lord, He keeps loving me and embracing me.  Through his servant Paul, He commands me to love my wife like He loves His bride, the Church.  He cleanses me of my many sins and works to perfect me as His bride, so He can present me on the final day as His pride and joy.  He commands me to love…period.  There are no loopholes in that command.  There are no circumstances where I don’t have to.  That’s His desire for me, so that’s what I do.  I love her…and I tell her I do every day.  (Go ahead, ask her.)

   I love to watch my flower blossom as I repeatedly respond back to her with love instead of what my flesh is tempted to do at times.  Love conquers.  It conquered my heart.  “No greater love has man than this than to lay his life down…”  Try it.  You’ll discover it covers a multitude of sin.

Another Message from HOPE’S

Marriage & Family Ministry

ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU

Ralph Sorter

   “She loves me…she loves me not…she loves me…she loves me not” – as we pull the petals off of the daisy.  But it didn’t turn out the way we wanted, so we picked another flower and started over.

   All of us played the game when we were younger, but sometimes it still resembles our relationships – she loves me, she loves me not – up, down – on, off.  Don’t let your heart grown numb…pick another flower and start over…don’t leave the relationship in that state.

   It takes effort to keep a relationship healthy.  A good marriage is hard work.  Anyone can walk away from tension and strife, but the bigger person comes back and repairs the damage that’s been done.  The more you walk away, the more your heart grows numb.  But that’s not the case with your mate or family member…theirs is pulling away from you…isolating you…waning in their affection for you.  Keep it up and you will find yourself divorced from the relationship (sometimes literally).

   What’s my touchstone that calls me back to do that which honors the Lord?  The example of Jesus and His command to me as a husband.  No matter how many times I have let down my Lord, He keeps loving me and embracing me.  Through his servant Paul, He commands me to love my wife like He loves His bride, the Church.  He cleanses me of my many sins and works to perfect me as His bride, so He can present me on the final day as His pride and joy.  He commands me to love…period.  There are no loopholes in that command.  There are no circumstances where I don’t have to.  That’s His desire for me, so that’s what I do.  I love her…and I tell her I do every day.  (Go ahead, ask her.)

   I love to watch my flower blossom as I repeatedly respond back to her with love instead of what my flesh is tempted to do at times.  Love conquers.  It conquered my heart.  “No greater love has man than this than to lay his life down…”  Try it.  You’ll discover it covers a multitude of sin.

Another Message from HOPE’S

Marriage & Family Ministry

ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU

Ralph Sorter

   “She loves me…she loves me not…she loves me…she loves me not” – as we pull the petals off of the daisy.  But it didn’t turn out the way we wanted, so we picked another flower and started over.

   All of us played the game when we were younger, but sometimes it still resembles our relationships – she loves me, she loves me not – up, down – on, off.  Don’t let your heart grown numb…pick another flower and start over…don’t leave the relationship in that state.

   It takes effort to keep a relationship healthy.  A good marriage is hard work.  Anyone can walk away from tension and strife, but the bigger person comes back and repairs the damage that’s been done.  The more you walk away, the more your heart grows numb.  But that’s not the case with your mate or family member…theirs is pulling away from you…isolating you…waning in their affection for you.  Keep it up and you will find yourself divorced from the relationship (sometimes literally).

   What’s my touchstone that calls me back to do that which honors the Lord?  The example of Jesus and His command to me as a husband.  No matter how many times I have let down my Lord, He keeps loving me and embracing me.  Through his servant Paul, He commands me to love my wife like He loves His bride, the Church.  He cleanses me of my many sins and works to perfect me as His bride, so He can present me on the final day as His pride and joy.  He commands me to love…period.  There are no loopholes in that command.  There are no circumstances where I don’t have to.  That’s His desire for me, so that’s what I do.  I love her…and I tell her I do every day.  (Go ahead, ask her.)

   I love to watch my flower blossom as I repeatedly respond back to her with love instead of what my flesh is tempted to do at times.  Love conquers.  It conquered my heart.  “No greater love has man than this than to lay his life down…”  Try it.  You’ll discover it covers a multitude of sin.

Another Message from HOPE’S

Marriage & Family Ministry