Justin and I have been married for three years.
We are past the infamous "first year of marriage" and have made it through the even tougher second year of marriage. This last year felt like we could breathe a sigh of relief. We are comfortable with each other and have found our rhythm as the Woffords.
Then we came on the World Race…
Living in community was the part of the World Race I was most excited about.
Then, during feedback one day, it hit me – community is just like a marriage.
My stomach sank.
That was the last thing I wanted…
All the emotions of those first two years of marriage came rushing back in: the constant frustration of not feeling heard, hurt feelings, feeling left out, anger, being ready to give up….
It was inevitable. I just failed to realize it.
I am living with six other people who are struggling between wanting to honor and love each other but finding it hard to "die to self."
Kate, our team leader, spoke 1 Corinthians 13:3-7 over our team during team time one night.
but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere.
So no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more or others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
I was reminded that love doesn't start with me receiving love but it starts with me showing love.
The verses above are all about "doing" love. Not one of them says anything along the lines of, "Love sits back and does nothing but receive love from others." And none of them say love is easy…
I have to work at and fight for my "marriage" to Team Ahava just like I fight for my marriage to Justin.
So, that's what I will do.
Because love never gives up, never looks back, and keeps going to the end.
