When I would think through my list of "Things I Want in a Husband" in the past, there was one quality that never made an appearance. It wasn't that I didn't value It, or appreciate It when others demonstrated It to me; It was just not something I thought to be that crucial to marriage. I love my Dad, and I am so thankful that my God gave him to me to model aspects of godliness. But I don't think I saw this quality in him either (and he would likely agree that It is not typically used to describe him) , which may have been partially responsible for why I didn't see It for the treasure that It could be in a home environment. At least, not until God's perfect wisdom and plan moved me to San Diego. Here I have seen my mentor's husband, a sort of father-figure, display It bountifully, and now I feel so foolish that it has not been on the List all along. My Valentine is: 5. GENTLE He CALMS me and ASSUAGES my fears, eliminating them altogether. He reassures me that He is worthy of my trust and dependence because He CARES for me and CARRIES me, speaking to me with the SOOTHING Voice of the Word, inviting me, never forcing me, to rest in His arms. (Fascinating also is the fact that His Spirit produces fruit in me so that I too am somehow able to show off gentleness!) (Isaiah 40:11, 1 Peter 5:7, 1 John 4:18, Psalm 34:4) He is KIND. Such kindness leads me to repentance. He is patient towards me, knowing exactly how to bestow goodness upon me in such a way that I will be attracted and drawn to Him because there is so much safety in kindness. It is the kindness of my Savior Jesus Christ, who shed His blood for me, that holds back the wrath of God against sin. Indeed, what LOVING KINDNESS!! (Romans 2:4) (Psalm 18:35 in the ESV says, "Your gentleness made me great." The original Hebrew word and perhaps a better translation is Your condescension made me great. Christ's willingness to humble Himself by coming to earth so that I could one day be raised and ascend to be with Him makes Him enticingly appealing to my heart. Such a beautifully KIND act of love, wouldn't you say!?) Now that my God has reminded me of the delight that is His Kindness, I rest that regardless of my status, He will always have been and will be the most Kind God-Man to ever exist, the Lover of my Soul.
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