To Be Called ‘LOVE’
by Elisha Joyce
Fully Mulched [5]
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
Proverbs 31:10-12
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There’s this great song by a band called Parachute called, “She Is Love.”
Here is the song [6] and here are the lyrics:
I’ve been beaten down, I’ve been kicked around,
But she takes it all for me.
And I lost my faith, in my darkest days,
But she makes me want to believe.
They call her love, love, love, love, love.
They call her love, love, love, love, love.
She is love, and she is all I need.
Well I had my ways, they were all in vain,
But she waited patiently.
It was all the same, all my pride and shame,
And she put me on my feet.
They call her love, love, love, love, love.
They call her love, love, love, love, love.
They call her love, love, love, love, love.
She is love, and she is all I need.
And when that world slows down, dear.
And when those stars burn out, here.
Oh she’ll be there, yes she’ll be there,
They call her love, love, love, love, love.
They call her love, love, love, love, love.
They call her love, love, love, love. love.
She is love, and she is all I need,
She is love, and she is all I need,
She is love, and she is all I need.
[7]
This song came on the radio today as my man and I sat across from each other eating lunch. We were chatting, parenting the three children at the table with us. And, as I looked at this man that I’ve been with for almost 18 years, I thought to myself, “Am I LOVE to him?”
Am I LOVE to my husband. I mean, really… truly. Are the words of this song words that he would use to describe me?
After all this time, do I treat him in a way that gives him warm fuzzies deep in his belly when he knows he’s going to see me?
After all this time (which, in the big picture is really no time at all), does he still look at me the way he did when we met and feel at ease because, no matter what, he knows without a doubt, everything he is – the good, the bad, and the ugly – is safe with me? That when he comes home at the end of his day, or sees me in the morning, or when I bring him coffee in bed… that he really, truly feels loved – and that I am all that he needs? That I will be here no matter what – even if everything around us fell down – that I would be right by his side, always his biggest fan?
Sometimes I get so wrapped up in my own thing and what I need from him that I forget what my Father has said: Elisha, love him. I have asked you to do good to him every day – every day! Not just when you feel like it or when he is deserving of it… every day and in every moment: love him, love him, love him…”
When it gets right down to it, no matter what I feel like, or what I need, or what I think he deserves, the Father’s directive is clear: I’m called to LOVE.
I’m called to be patient and kind,
to be free of envy, boastfulness, and pride.
I’m called to never be rude or self-seeking,
and to not be easily angered.
I am called to stop keeping a record of wrongs,
to stop rejoicing at, and pointing to, his failures and, instead, celebrate his victories and things that are True.
I am called to PROTECT my man with my actions, my words – even with my thoughts!
I am called to be TRUSTING of my man, not to question and doubt him,
I am called to be HOPEFUL – and be confident that God, in His perfect will,
has put us together and will strengthen us to PERSEVERE through anything.
Yes, life can be hard… and marriage isn’t always a cake walk. But – BUT! – God will strengthen me and make me worthy to be called ‘love’. With my eyes and my heart open to His calling saying, “Elisha, be patient – he’s human just like you are. I’m doing a mighty work here… so, sweet daughter, be My hands and feet to your man… just be love.”