SatromAlbert
Wedding of Rich Satrom / Gwen Albert
HLC-N 11/29/97 Texts: Matt 19.4-6; 1 Cor 13.1-13
realize it’s a generalization, but from my experience, even w/in own family, people who involved in farming are not usually the impetuous, impatient sort
you gotta make your plans carefully, you know that there is a long growing season before the harvest, there may be a hundred different factors which can throw you off, be flexible but you hafta design a schedule and make it work as best as possible
w/ that view of farming types, I was a bit surprised when I asked Rich and Gwen to tell me about when he proposed - they were on a ski trip in MT, Rich was planning to ask her at the perfect, romantic time, but, as they were getting ready to go out, Rich said (I quote) “I just couldn’t wait for a better moment.” He on knee, popped the question, (romantic, lovely)
Now, I’m all for love and romance, and we all hope and pray that you both will be romantically involved in loving each other for the rest of your lives, but you probably already realize how hard it is to keep the romance alive in a rel, and I suspect that everyone here would say that the most impt advice for a happy and successful marriage is something that is easy to say but hard to do: Love each other
it seems obvious, sounds simple: Love each other
Yet true LOVE is anything but simple as you try to live it out in your daily lives where there are all the demands of work and family and bills to pay
you quickly discover that it is impt to disting between the LOVE that never ends and simple,worldly little thing called LUV - uc
- you can fall in LUV at first sight, but you must grow in LOVE
- LUV is an impulse, but LOVE involves decisions / commitment,
- LUV is impetuous and filled with intrigue, LOVE is patient and kind
- LUV can be selfish and suspicious and jealous, but LOVE is not envious or boastful or arrogant
- LUV comes quickly, easily, and just as quickly/easily disap’ears
- LOVE takes time and energy, but also ... LOVE never ends
the Greek language of Bible has separate words to describe these loves: the LUV word has to do with feeling, emotions, passion, chemistry - knee wobbling, butterfly in stomach (also means pour out, vomit!) - not a bad thing: doesn’t even appear in the NT - more impt: that luv can’t be commanded
BUT LOVE arises from a keen sense of the value and worth in the object of our love - it is something you can do and I want you to remember to do throughout your marriage: value, treasure, appreciate - to plan for and nurture your relationship
feelings/passions/LUV may have ups/downs, like gambling where your luck comes and goes BUT LOVE is like farming: planning, planting, tilling, watering, cultivating, adjusting to changing conditions, and getting ready for the harvest
when I put it this way, you might almost think that it wrong to NOT “wait for a better moment”
And when I or anyone else says: LOVE each other - you realize what an awesome promise it is that you r making to each other today
Will you indeed not just luv each other BUT also LOVE each other?
It’s almost too much for any human being to promise, but here is where you begin to realize that you are not alone in your marriage
Consider the Matt pass where J said: what God join…, let no one and no thing separate you
that too is easier said than done, of course,
but it is impt to see that with everything that God does, there is a promise which accompanies the command
Listen again: What GOD has joined together...
Do you hear the promise? it is God who has brought you to this day
it is what God has joined together that shall not be separated
it is the LOVE of God which lies behind that wonderful description of love in 1 Cor 13
it is that same love which will keep you together because God's love is far stronger and more powerful and more wonderful than even the most passionate and romantic of human loves
You will always be able to count on the love of GOD to be with you in the midst of sickness and health and better and worse and all that the years may bring (sounds like a promise a farmer could live w/)
There is no “better moment” than the present moment to celebrate this love of God which has been manifested in your relationship.
And throughout your marriage, we pray that you will find that every moment is the perfect moment to LUV and LOVE each other just as God loves you. AMEN.