The Little Things

  Having celebrated Valentine’s Day this past week, it is always a reminder to reflect on “love” at the forefront of my life.  I am not a huge fan of the commercialism of the day, but I do enjoy a date night with my husband, and coming up with a little gift to express love to our kids.

This year my husband surprised me with the choice of “Date A” or “Date B”. The catch was that I didn’t know what either date entailed.  I chose “A”, and little be-knowns to me the date included dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, and an evening at a marriage seminar our church was having where a famous author and speaker would be presenting. Kevin Leman was hilarious as he explained the differences between husband and wife. But there was also a serious underlying message in all that he spoke on as he explained God’s design for marriage, and the hope that is promised when couples make Jesus Christ the center of it all.

As Dr. Leman gave several examples of things he and his wife have done over the years to keep their marriage strong, I was reminded how much of deep love lies in all of the little things.  Yes the gifts over the years and the weekend getaways and such are always memorable- but I believe that it’s the little things that make all the difference over time.  Making the bed on the days that I work, offering to take the kids to school when he has a late start, bringing home flowers for no reason at all, holding my hand as we sit in church, pulling me over to him in the kitchen to give me a long hug, doing the dishes without being asked…..these are the things he does that makes my heart smile.

God, being not only Love Himself, but the author of love as well- shows us His little things if only we have open eyes throughout the day to see them.  The beauty of a snow fall, a colorful butterfly, sunrises and sunsets painted across the canvas of the sky, endless stars in a black night, a rainbow after a storm, a sleeping baby’s angelic face, the belly laugh of a child….these are all of the Father’s little gifts of love to His children- when our eyes and ears are open enough to notice.

Just as the Lord desires to show us His love every day, I want to be better at my effort in showing love to my husband.  It is easy to get caught up in the “to do’s” of  life and lose effort at loving each other well.  I am thankful for the chance this past weekend to receive a reminder that marriage at its best and its worst, takes work.  First in committing the relationship to the author of marriage Himself, and second putting the others needs above our own.  May we never lose sight of noticing or doing- the Little Things.

With love-  April

1 John 4:16

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.  God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.