Day 1 - Bringing a Gift of Love

Image from Google images

The woman who makes a sweet, beautiful home,

filling it with love and prayer and purity,

is doing something better than anything else

her hands could find to do beneath the skies.

― J.R. Miller

While my son is getting some work done to his apartment, he asked if we could watch his bird Abby for a few days. Without hesitation I said yes. I absolutely love this little little Green Cheek Conure and she loves me. One of my favorite things that she does is run up my arm and kiss my cheek. She even does the little kissy noise that goes with it. And when she's not on my arm, she's often saying, "Give me a kiss," from her cage. How cute is that?!

What's not so cute is that Conures have a tendency to bite. She loves to nest in my hair, but the minute she gets a little agitated, she bites the back of my neck, and let me tell you, it hurts!

Because of her tendency to bite, Brendan is the only other person in our family who will hold her. The kids would sooner run from the room screaming than take the chance of getting nipped.

Looking at Abby the other day I was reminded of myself. Hormones have a funny way of bringing out the Jekyll and Hyde in a woman every twenty eight days or so. I could be saying, "Give me a kiss," to my husband one minute and chewing his head off the next. But month after month--year after year, he has loved me through the good times and the bad.

Whether I was nestled up against his cheek or flying out the door, he has patiently stood by me year after year.

While I'm praising God for that gift of love I seek to offer my own. Not just for the sake of my husband, but ultimately for the sake of my Lord. Therefore my love must be based on the wisdom of God's Word, rather than my own passion, desires, or wants.

For the next 31 days I'm hosting 31 Days of Love. Twenty-seven different women (including me) will be here to offer you encouragement and a biblical perspective on marriage. Each daily challenge is designed to encourage you to love the way that God intended according to His wisdom as outlined in scripture.

Are you ready for a challenge? Great--let's go!

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure;

then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy

and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

~ James 3:17, NIV

You are loved by an almighty God,

Darlene

Today's Challenge: Read 1 Corinthians 13 (the love chapter) and jot down some of the thoughts that come to mind such as: What is God's definition of love? What are the characteristics of love? In what areas of "loving" do I stumble the most? What are a few of the steps I can take toward change?

Today's Challenger: Darlene is an ordinary mom, living an extraordinary life, because of who she is through Jesus Christ. As help-meet to her husband Michael, she guides and nurtures their four children, leading them toward a deeper walk of faith. She is a New York Times best-selling author through the book she co-authored with actress Candace Cameron Bure titled, Reshaping it All: Motivation for Physical and Spiritual Fitness. Her writing has also been published in Thomas Nelson’s anthology, Grace Givers, Tyndale Publisher’s Soul Food/Life Savors for Women, A Cup of Comfort (Adam’s Media), and she has published articles through many magazines. She is your host through "31 Days to Love" and blogs here at Time-Warp Wife.

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