A Beautiful Quotation
Thank you to
In the intimacy of marriage you offer yourself, continually and gladly. When you give yourself to your husband, you are actually giving him life. You are putting meaning into his life which was not there before and willy nilly (this is one of the most astonishing and beautiful of the inescapable facts) you find meaning in your own life because of this sacrifice. Your husband, loving you as Christ loved the Church--that is, laying down his life for you--gives you life and puts meaning into his own. An inexorable spiritual principle is set in motion. It is not the laying down that occupies your thoughts; it is the joy. Christ, when He endured the Cross, knew the joy that was set before Him.
You can't talk about the idea of equality and the idea of self-giving in the same breath. You can talk about partnership, but it is the partnership of the dance. If two people agree to dance together they agree to give and take, one to lead and one to follow. This is what a dance is. Insistence that both lead means there won't be any dance. It is the woman's delighted yielding to the man's lead that gives him freedom. It is the man's willingness to take the lead that gives her freedom. Acceptance of their respective positions frees them both and whirls them into joy.
If you can understand your womanhood in this light, you will know fullness of life. Hear the call of God to be a woman. Obey that call. Turn your energies to service. Whether your service is to be to a husband and through him and the family and home God gives you to serve the world, or whether you should remain, in the providence of God, single in order to serve the world without the solace of husband, home, and family, you will know fullness of life, fullness of liberty, and (I know wherof I speak) fullness of joy.
posted by Crystal Paine at 2:26 PM
7 Comments:
This quote *IS* beautiful!!! And it's so true, isn't it?! Our fourth baby made his arrival about four weeks ago. I think my husband and I have fallen in love with each other all over again! :) We were just commenting on how marriage is a very, very *good* thing!
I'll add another quote by Martin Luther, "There is no more lovely, friendly, and charming relationship, communion, or company than a good marriage." And just for good measure I'll give you one of my husband's favorite quotes also, "To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides."
Let's all enjoy our dance!
Bessie
Bessie
Our baby is only two weeks old. I'm certain pregnancy messes with my brain! :)
What a beautiful quote. I am very fond of Elizabeth Elliot's writings. The Lord has taught and used her so very much in my life. And she truly speaks the truth reguarding a godly marriage!!! Thank you for sharing.
Elizabeth Elliot is one of God's very special gifts to us all. I think she should be required reading for all women young or older. :-)
Beautiful. Bessiejoy, thank you for your Luther contribution as well!
I think it's true about the birth of the baby making you fall in love all over again. Every child is different, and yet a combination of the two of you...so special and mysterious you can't help but be united over it. Sorry, I got sappy there for a minute. :)
Bessijoy, you are so right about falling in love with your husband even more after your baby is born. Our romance and love was rekindled after our first born. I was expecting the exact opposite because people always say that the baby takes priority and you will lose sight of each other. I think that frist month after our son was born was more romantic for me and my husband than our honeymoon.
-Zan
Oh, Zan, that's exactly how it is in our home right now! It is better than our first honeymoon.. Last night, my husband gave me the sweetest card telling me how he loved me when we got married but he now cherishes me! We are so happy. Our home is such a haven from this world we live in. The laughter and joy we experience every evening is like a taste of heaven to me! God's way is always right!
Bessie
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