| Romans 5:8 – “Christ died for us while we were still sinners. In that way God showed us that He loves us very much.” |
My wife and I spent the morning and ate lunch with my mother this past Sunday. We worshiped online. The three of us sang along with our virtual congregation in Richardson. We ate lunch with my mother in her dining room. The food was good. We talked for a long time at the table, and several residents stopped to chat with us. We went back to Mom’s room and talked a while longer until it was time for us to go. As the day was passing on, the thought came to me that I like my wife. I like talking to her, listening to her, eating with her. There is a scene in the movie “Shenandoah” that came to mind. Charlie Anderson, played by Jimmy Stewart, is being asked permission for his daughter’s hand by Doug McClure, playing the prospective son-in-law, Sam. Charlie Anderson: Do you like her? Lt. Sam: Well, I just said I…Charlie Anderson: “No, no. You just said you loved her. There’s some difference between lovin’ and likin’. When I married Jennie’s mother, I-I didn’t love her – I liked her… I liked her a lot. I liked Martha for at least three years after we were married and then one day it just dawned on me I loved her. I still do… still do. You see, Sam, when you love a woman without likin’ her, the night can be long and cold, and contempt comes up with the sun.” I thought about the difference. I like people based on things they do. Love is based on what I do. I can love people who are mean to me. It is difficult, but is a decision I make, and they have no input. I like people who are nice to me and do things that I value as good. “God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Father in heaven, thank You for loving us when we were not like-able, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
– Jeff Beall
