Kisses -- Sweeter Than Wine

“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth — for your love is more delightful than wine.” How’s that for a Valentine’s Day opener? Sounds like something out of a romance novel, doesn’t it? It is way more. It is straight from God’s Holy Word, the Song of Solomon 1:2. God intended us to know romance so He showed us love in all dimensions – from Solomon’s wife’s love for her husband to His unrelenting love in giving His own Son’s sacrifice of love for us.

But what happens to that first love and those times of longing for being together and not being able to keep our eyes and our thoughts off of each other? Complacency happens. The fire we had at first becomes a flicker. We've lost our "first love".

Of course, today, I think of my first “puppy” love story. He was all of 13 years old and I was 12. It was a “by telephone” courtship. Eventually, we were strategizing for our first kiss. The only time we saw each other was at the church his dad pastored on an occasional Sunday night. On the phone, he asked, “When can I kiss you?" Me, being shy and senseless of romance in any way gave little input, but he already had a plan of action. “How about after church next Sunday night, behind the church?" Oh, my! I couldn’t sleep or think straight, especially when Sunday night came. After service, we headed outside to the darkness in the back of the church. He took me in his arms, threw me back like an old movie scene and planted a big one on my lips while his breath mint slipped into my mouth as we almost lost our balance. We heard his dad call out for us and, he ran one way around to the front of the church and I ran the other way. We were proud of our inconspicuous scheme. ;-)

That led to many years of loving to kiss, holding hands, and snuggling close – until the day of his graduation to heaven. I know that after many years in a relationship, the fire of first love tends to grow dim. I’d like you to think that our marriage was all marital bliss, but there were many times it faltered. It happens in marriage, and it happens in our relationship with God. In Revelation 2:1-7, John the Apostle wrote to the Ephesian church that had been faithful and hardworking, but he warned them to “remember their first love for God".

In the middle of this Valentine’s Day when love is up front and center, and whether we’re single or married, we are wise to go back to our first loves -- with our spouses AND our first love with Jesus. We can return to those first words of love and affection, service and obedience, amazement and appreciation. Oh, that we would still hunger and thirst again to be in God’s presence like we couldn’t get enough of our sweethearts in the beginning – when we were first in love. We can lose the passion and fervor in our marriages and in the same way, for God. We can accept the status quo and let the fires that once intensely burned, die.

Believe me, now that my sweetheart is up there and not here, I’ve thought about the times I was too busy or preoccupied or uninterested in my husband’s affection. My sweet married friends, don’t lose that first love for each other. Cherish your moments together. Rekindle your first love. Go on dates and remember what it felt like in the beginning. And, the same is true for rekindling our first love and our relationship with God.
May we remember how God went the distance to restore us, redeem our life and for being our forever love.
Happy Valentine’s Day!

We've Been Together From the Start

This day holds so many precious memories. Today is my son’s birthday. It's hard to believe this many years have passed since that little man sat in his high chair at the end of the table. He changed our lives, and he is changing the world beause he cares about people and making a difference in their lives. He lives his life with purpose and passion. He is relentless in his pursuits and won't stop until he finishes what he starts.

My precious son, I loved you before I met you. You knew my voice and my heart beat before anyone else’s. You were my second love in the world – I was your first love. You and I grew up together -- literally – a young Mom that new little of raising a boy to a man. I made many mistakes along the way, but with God’s help and your Daddy’s help, you made it! It seems like I blinked and no longer did I have a little boy. Now a strong and mighty man stands where that precious little man used to be.

It comes with the "mother" territory -- it doesn't matter how old you get, you will always be my baby boy and I will cherish that forever.
I know, you know, that I love you so much. Thank you for loving me, and for letting me hold on, even though there's just a strand left in my apron strings.

Though I no longer carry you in my arms, I will always carry you in my heart. You will always be my dream come true. You filled my days with so much happiness and joy. And now, today.......you are still my dream come true. No one else can claim this important fact…I am your one and only Mom, and you are my son. I’m thrilled to see where the next years take you. With your tenacity, passion, and determination, that has always been evident….there are no limits. I love you so much and I am so grateful that God blessed me......with YOU!! Happy Birthday, my precious SON!

The Yellow Rose of Texas Still Blooms

Day 123 of Photo Inspirations -- The Yellow Rose of Texas Still Blooms
To my joy, yesterday morning, after having been away for 20 days, I stepped out on my patio and there were my fragrant and beautiful yellow roses in bloom.  To some that would be "no big deal", but as in every year since we were married, the yellow roses represented our favorite color -- yellow (my Honey always called me his "Yellow Rose of Texas") and yellow were the colors in our wedding.   Every home we lived in thereafter, we always planted a yellow rose bush.  This photo is the bush I planted at my new home.  I'm carrying on the tradition we began almost 50 years ago.  And, of course, when I see it, I'm reminded of my first love.  I even go so far as to conjure up the idea that, perhaps, it was he that made sure I had yellow roses in bloom when I returned home.

While I was away, two special men graduated to heaven -- Uncle Hugo Litke, who was a mentor and favorite uncle of my husband.  He lived a full and long life. And, also graduating to heaven was a dear friend, Ray Elston.  Both of these precious men went to heaven in advance of their wives -- each of whom knew the love that my Honey and I shared.  They also had a "forever love".  The good news is we'll all be back together again for a joyous celebration of being "home" together forever.

When I think about those three men, I like to think they are laughing and celebrating being home.  Heaven is a wonderful place.....and, best of all, as Rick Warren says, "We were made for it."

Unfortunately, so many people see in death nothing but a cruel separation from loved ones.  But, it is so much more than that.  We are born for heaven and we end this life of tears to begin our life of endless happiness.  Death has not destroyed our loved ones, nor carried them away.  Rather it is has given them life -- a life with power to know fully and to love perfectly.

The tears that dampen our eyes in times of mourning, are tears of homesickness, tears of longing for our loved ones.  But it is we who are away from home, not they!  Death has been for them a doorway to an eternal home.  They are still with us, lovingly and tenderly waiting for the day when we, too, will enter the doorway of our eternal home.  For us who believe, death is a preparation for eternal union with those we love, in the peace and joy of heaven.   We were made for heaven. We were made to last forever.

But, in the meantime, while we are still on this side of heaven.....we continue to finish our assignments well and also, along the way -- to stop and smell the roses!  I assure you, that's the way this "Yellow Rose of Texas" lives each day enroute to my heavenly home....and by the way, there....our yellow roses will never fade.