Life is Short…Love Hard

My grandmother, Mildred, was unashamed when it came to affection. A little lady with soft skin. Who gave the very best hugs.

Her forehead pressed against mine, she’d hold my face in her tiny hands and sing, “I love you a bushel and a peck, a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.”

And she meant every word.

She loved deeply. Even deeper than a bushel. Or a peck.

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:13 My grandmother lived her life in the affection of Christ. His expression of love marked her life.

Love one another: (agapaō) to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly

Mildred welcomed and loved dearly, all those that the Lord entrusted to her. A woman of faith. An affectionate, serving wife. A student of God’s Word and a lover of His people.

Yesterday morning, my precious grandmother met Jesus.

Her faith now sight.

Today, I can’t help but think of her legacy.

Her legacy of love.

Not the love of this world, but the agape love of Christ.

This morning, I write from a very raw place. My heart grieving the loss of this precious woman. My ears wishing I could hear her sing to me … just once more.

But I am so thankful for the lesson that resonates today…

Life is so short. Love hard.

As for my marriage, the Lord entrusted Brent to me for a lifetime, but today I see a lifetime as not very long. Love hard.

I want to be a student of the man in my life. I want to study him and learn how to love him in a way that speaks to his heart most.

Each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. Ephesians 5:33

Brent wants my affection, yes, but even more, he receives love through my respect.

“Here is the secret to marriage that every couple seeks, yet few couples ever find”…

“Unconditional respect is as powerful for him as unconditional love is for her”…

“…it’s the secret that will help you achieve a brand new level of intimacy.” – Love and Respect for a Lifetime, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs This Biblical truth is one that my sweet grandmother knew… and as a result she enjoyed two thriving marriages. One to my grandfather, who died of Lou Gehrig’s disease, and her second marriage to Everett, a railroad Engineer.

Both men adored her. And I have to believe it is a result from her desire to meet their heartfelt need. Respect.

“Respect is a man’s deepest value.” –Love and Respect for a Lifetime I am thankful today for a glimpses of my mortality. I am thankful for the reminder that I only have this marriage for one lifetime. Love Hard. The little things that cause me to be upset with Brent are so small in comparison to the gift he is to me. I am leaving a legacy. My children will remember something of me….

Let it be a legacy of Love and Respect.

I would love to give you a copy of this book. It is a breath of fresh air. Small and easy, but absolutely full of Biblical, healing truth regarding marriage.

A blogsphere friend of mine, Lissa*, commented yesterday saying that this book changed her life. Wow. Weighty words from a woman who walked the rough terrain of marriage. And overcame. Praise Jesus.

Lord God, thank you for the legacy of love that my grandmother left to me. Thank you, for giving me, for giving all of us, the opportunity to leave the same legacy. To love and respect. Let us see Today as the day. To love hard…for life is so fleeting. Help us today to have an eternal mindset. And to be intentional: To PURSUE LOVE. TO PURSUE RESPECT. AND TO PURSUE YOU. In Jesus Name, Amen.

If you’d like to win a copy of this book, you could do a few different things:

1) become a new follower of The Word of God and a Cup of Joe (let me know if you do this…I can’t always tell)

2) Share this post with a friend via tweet, facebook or email

3) Share a Cup of Joe on your blog

4) just leave a comment (make sure I have your name and email)

Let me know how you enter. I am so excited about this.

The winner will be chosen and announced tomorrow morning! (I’d love to get the book mailed to you in time for Valentine’s Day. xoxo)

(Please pray for my family as we grieve and make arrangements. Especially my sweet Daddy and Aunt Marsha, as they cope with the loss of their mother.)

*Lissa posted a blog this morning on my kitchen and dining room! How neat 🙂