This month I’m honored to bring you the words of a very wise friend of mine. Mrs. Martha Hall and her husband Gary ran the Arcadian Inn for over 20 years and have been our life group leaders and mentors for 6 years. Her wisdom on marriage and living a God-filled life is vast. I hope you get as much out of her words below as I did…
Spirituality – Romance
It’s a romantic season with Valentines on the calendar. When we think of romance in terms of the Bible, you might go to the Song of Solomon, sometimes known as Song of Songs. In Song of Solomon, our lovers share their passion thus giving us God’s permission to enjoy intimacy from a spiritual point of view.
The holiday of Love, Valentines, is more than romance and intimacy. I am a bed and breakfast innkeeper, where the world stops for Valentines. It’s romance and intimacy for our guests. However in 37 years of marriage and 26 years of innkeeping, I know that “love” is really a sum of character traits.
I need to take you to another scripture …
You know the famous “Love” chapter in the scriptures, I Corinthians 13. Many pastors will quote it this season and we hear it often at weddings. Hmmm…what about at a funeral?
As a young woman, I read this scripture differently… how does it relate to me? In recent years I’ve heard messages regarding this same perspective, so I suppose I wasn’t the only one God showed this to. Shoot! I thought I had a divine moment there. Let me show you my old favorite Bible and how I Corinthians 13 looks there.
We know that God is Love, I John 4:8, and that we should love like God does. God describes Love in the Love Chapter as patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, not rude or selfish, not easily angered, always protective, always trusting, hopeful, always persevering, never failing. Well? How is that romantic?
Men…all of these words are great romantic tips for you this season. Would she say that these words describe you? Patient, kind, not envious…how about not boastful, not proud, not rude or selfish? Are you easily angered, do you always protect her, trust her, hope for her, persevere for her? Do you fail her? If she would describe you in these character traits, you are a romantic hunk! She’ll adore you!
AHH Ladies, your man would be so excited and blessed if he could describe you with these words…. patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, not rude or selfish, not easily angered, always protective of him, trusting him, hopeful for him, do you persevere for him? Do you fail him? To him you would have hung the moon! He will treasure you! It’s wonderful to be treasured I assure you!
I guess I need to make a romance package for my guests that encourages these as well. It was an awakening for me 30 years ago, as I wrote these verses with my name in place of love. I mentioned a funeral earlier. I aspire that the pastor would read these words describing me at my funeral. I pray that I can be this kind of love not only to Gary, my husband and lover, but to my children and grandchildren, my family and friends, my guests and business associates. Oh, yeh, I’m still working on it. I wasn’t too patient or un-angered with Blue Cross Blue Shield last week, but I’m working on it. Give me time.
Give each other time. Be hopeful for them.
Romance isn’t flowers, wine and sex. It’s heartfelt unselfish, persevering, unfailing, patient and kind, protective, trusting and hopeful. Love goes on past the Valentine dinner to the next hard week at work, the next sick child, the vacation for two, the hopes and dreams for one another.
Love is.
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Your Innkeeper
Arcadian Getaways
www.ArcadianGetaways.com
Honeymoon Cottages, Guthrie, Oklahoma
405-201-1632