Let Me Call You Sweetheart

Introducing...Ethel!

Until now, you've only read about her.  In today's guest post, you get to meet her and read her words.  Although she is infinitely more comfortable sitting on the floor reading a picture book to preschoolers or creating something amazing with crayons, paint, glitter glue, yarn, felt, beads, flowers, paper, stickers, or anything else but words, Ethel agreed to write and deliver the devotional for my daughter's shower.  She did it because she loves my daughter and she loves me, but mostly because her Heavenly Father loved her first.  And because she got to use her watercolor colored pencils.

Dearest Emma, Sweetheart,                                                                                               October 16, 2010

                You are an amazing covenant child of God. And for the past 21 years we have had the blessing of watching you grow in faith. These experiences have brought both smiles and grey hairs to your lovely mother’s head and joy to all of us. Your Mommy would sing “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” while holding you and dancing with you and laughing with great happiness. The love your parents have for you, dear Emma, is surpassed only by the love of our heavenly Father. Now you are grown and God has blessed you with a special man to share your life; someone who joins in their love for you, someone new to call you Sweetheart. 

                “Sweetheart” is a special term of endearment meaning one who is cherished and adored. Thanks to your Aunt Sue and Uncle Chaz we all have better understanding that God has uniquely created women with a need to be cherished above all else.

                When love is new and gloriously exciting it can be hard to imagine difficulties coming ahead.  Bliss just seems natural and easy and eternal. Then, someone leaves their clothes on the floor inches from the laundry basket, or an expensive cut of meat comes out of the oven too blackened to be called Cajun. The life style of a young couple is much different than that of the long established household you have been accustomed to, it takes adjustment. The reality of daily living is mundane and sometimes someone will forget to bring home flowers or someone else will be too tired to bake cookies.  None of it is intentional but each time someone feels just a little less loved~ a little less adored. We are not perfect beings; we get tired, maybe cranky, and even at times a little bossy.  Our behavior does not always create a desire in others, even a special other, to cherish us.

                At times like these we must remember that we love because He first loved us. As I thought and prayed in preparation for today (and stared at the word Sweetheart) I found some words of encouragement:

S is for serving and sacrifice. God has called us to love one another as He loves us by serving and sacrifice.

 We serve with love because He loved us first.

 W is for worship and work.   It is a joy to worship our LORD and that joy is magnified when we  worship together.  The work that He gives is a blessing of provision and working shoulder to shoulder strengthens the bonds that unite a husband and wife.

 We worship and work together because He first loved us.

E is for eat with your husband.  It starts with a piece of cake- the intimacy of feeding a loved one.   Never be so busy that you just grab and go. We nourish more than our bodies when we share food together.  Be intentional with your mealtimes.

  We enjoy our daily bread because He first loved us.

 E   is for enjoy ~ take pleasure in little and big things. There is wonder in all of creation, in all that God provides ~ share that sense of wonder and praise of the Father with each other.

 We have joy because He first loved us.

T is for talking. Always share your day, both the good and the bad of it, share your ideas and  your dreams. It is easy to justify keeping small things to yourself, like going over your budget slightly or a small scratch in the car; easy to say it’s not important or worth the time… fear  motivates taking the easy way. Don’t! Love casts out fear. 

We do not live in fear because    He first loved us.

H is for home and hospitality.  “A happy home is but an earlier heaven.” J. Bowring and “Nothing warms a home more than the gathering of friends” anon. Home has nothing to do with new and shiny and everything to do with warmth and love~ hospitality has little to do with fine things.  A  drink of water from a paper cup offered in sweet fellowship is always sweeter than one from fine crystal offered in haste.

 We welcome others because He loved us first.

E is for esteem. As deeply as a woman desires to be cherished so is the need for honor in a man.  As old fashioned as it may sound~ never argue with or correct your husband in front of others. The satisfaction of being right is never worth the price of a loved one’s pride. Your   husband is a blessing from God, created in His image; this is reason enough. 

We can honor each other because He first loved us.

A is for affection. God created us physical beings~ always be affectionate, never stop reaching for  each other’s hand ~ sweetly touch  your loved ones shoulder in encouragement~grab those quick kisses as much as you desire the long ones~ sincere affection is a blessing not only to those who share it but also to those who witness it.

 We celebrate love because He first loved us.

R is for remembering. Remember the blessing of witnessing godly marriages all your life ~ allow those memories to guide and encourage you in times of doubt or confusion. Rejoice in what

God has given you. 

We remember what love looks like because He first loved us.

T is for taking time out for God. Set aside time to be with God personally. Drink deeply from the   well of Living Water and be generous sharing it with each other.

“We love because He first loved us.” 1John 4:19