Nov
25
2013

Old Love

Posted in Daily Living | 2 Comments

There is nothing like old love.
Old love with its wrinkles and sagging.
Old love with its strength and “stick-to-it-tive-ness”.
Old love like a comfy pair of jeans or well-worn sneakers.

I saw them walking; slowly but determined.
He with his arm jutted out just enough for her arm to slip next to his side.
Connected: elbow to elbow, year to year, heart to heart.
Fitted together like fingers in a glove.

Talking, silent, content, filled up with a sense of belonging.
There is something about finishing each others’ sentences.
There is something about raising an eyebrow in such a way that volumes are spoken.
There is understanding, there is forgiveness, there is a life shared.

As beautiful as new love is, there is something about old love that draws me.
New love with its forever touching and having to sit as close as you can.
New love with all that life has to offer in front of you.
ALL that life as to offer.

Sometimes what life has to offer is challenging, painful, and seemingly unfair.
New love has to face all of this in uncharted territory.
No cartographer has drawn a map for your journey.
You trail blaze together, looking for the perfect foothold.

Old love has its battle scars.
Old love has been wounded.
Old love is stronger for the mending.
Old love has gone through the crucible and has come out as gold.

Old love is valuable.
More precious with age.
Time tested, lasting, persevering.
Daily deposits of memories.

I read about them.
He 102. She 98.
They just celebrated their 81st wedding anniversary.
They eloped because her father didn’t approve.

The marriage won’t last, the family said.
It lasted; it thrived.
Five children, fourteen grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren.
She liked me for my car, he said talking about his Ford Roadster.
We have watched the world change together, he said holding his wife’s hand.

They watched the world change and they didn’t run.
They didn’t throw in the towel at the first difficult challenge that came along.
They didn’t threaten divorce when they just didn’t like each other that day.
They stuck together gaining strength from the other, even when it was hard.

They built a lifetime as she slipped her arm next to his side and as he held her hand.
They built on the foundations of those that went before them; not on sand, but on rock.
They continued the story in the lives of their children, who continued the story in theirs.
They learned to laugh when crying would have been easier.

They leaned on God.

Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. (Proverbs 5:15-18)

They protected their love from the world.
They chiseled out time so their love could breathe.
They acted without a hint of impropriety.
They kept their marriage bed pure.

They held back those things that devour.
They practiced kindness and gentleness and respect.
They ran to each other with their problems.
They didn’t air their dirty laundry on the clothesline.

They threw away their lists.
They didn’t keep old history in their back pocket to pull out at just the right time.
They went the distance, better than any cross-country runner.
It’s not how you start, but how you finish that matters, he wisely said.

While everyone else was running, they walked.
While everyone else was comparing, they looked into each others eyes.
While everyone else was searching for love, they had it all along.
Not grand, not impressive, but kind and faithful.

They hold out a better way.
Through their battle scars, or maybe because of them; they hold out hope.
Hope that old love is possible.
Hope that old love is necessary for the world to see.

The disposable world that throws away because it is easier.
The disposable world that says newer is better.
The disposable world that has tossed treasures in landfills.
The disposable world that does not believe in permanence.

New love needs room and time to grow.
New love needs to look old love in the face and say, Show us how!
New love needs to be the tortoise, not the hare; going the distance because it matters.
New love becomes old love, but it needs God’s help.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

A cord of three strands: the husband, the wife, and God.
New love becoming old love because of HIM.
Walking together and walking with God: elbow to elbow, year to year, heart to heart.

 

Whispers of His Movement and Whispers in Verse books are now available in paperback and e-book!

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2 responses to “Old Love”

  1. This is so Beautiful and so true!!! I wish I had been farsighted enough to realize that no matter what the problems, they always have a way of being less important as time goes by. With Gods help you are Blessed for persevering and giving the problems to God to see you through. I admire and know that God has Blessed a union that stays together and love survives through the years. You are such an inspiration!!!!

    • Thank you, Mary. I am delighted to know that God has blessed you through these words.
      We need God at the center of all of our relationships…so they are not about glorifying us, but are about glorifying HIM.
      Thank you for your encouragement.
      Gina

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