We’re big country music fans around our house. I grew up on a farm and my husband’s hidden country-loving persona became exposed very quickly after hanging out with me for a while. He honestly (and openly) enjoys a pickup truck and dirty blue jeans as much as the next person.
His favorite song of late has been “She Love Me Like Jesus Does” by Eric Church and says it always makes him think of me.
WHOA. Let’s stop here for a second! I laughed really loud, and probably rudely, the first time he said that, as he gave me a hug and kiss. I’m the absolute first to admit I’m not an easy woman to live with. I’m a type-A, strong-willed, first-child, likes-things-my-way kind of person. One of my favorite country songs that I dedicate to Jonas is “Hard to Love” by Lee Brice. I know it fits me perfectly. He laughed the first time I played that one for him. He knows it, and I still why I wonder how he thinks I love him like Jesus does. It blows my mind he even puts me in the category.
I can see that I do in many ways, but in many ways, I fail. Jesus didn’t fail. He loved those who did, however. This is the grace I need each day.
I want to love like Jesus does. I desperately try to. That pair of shoes sitting out, that last pot he didn’t wash, the checkbook balance that wasn’t done again, however, just gets me riled. If I’m completely honest, I don’t know many days if I can keep going and smiling through frustration.
Jonas, though, is mild-mannered, even-tempered and keeps calm through my storms. I have a good friend who helps me through these times. I’ve found that when I feel I can’t love (most likely haven’t loved) like Jesus does, a good Christian woman’s reminder helps. Since she’s a lot like me, I think it helps us both to discuss our weaknesses and grow toward the Lord’s will in our lives and marriages.
A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.” ~Proverbs 15:1
When I struggle, I am thinking every day of how to be a kinder, gentler person. I don’t want to lose the “fire” that is innately who God made me to be, but I definitely need to learn some flame management techniques. I have a feeling there’s a lot of women in my situation reading this today. A douse of baking soda once in a while doesn’t hurt!
I also think I need to be nicer to myself. If Jonas sees me as someone who loves him like Jesus does, I must be doing something right, some of the time. This is where the next verse comes in:
Bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.” ~Colossians 3:13
My husband and I have got that one down! We forgive over and over. We complain and we both fall short, but we forgive. I know couples that don’t, and hold grudges. It can be toxic. The next time that Eric Church song comes on the radio, maybe I won’t laugh and say, “Oh, okay.” with sarcasm. Instead, I’ll hug him and say “Thank you, too, for loving ME like Jesus does, my God-chosen partner for life.”
