Day 22 LOVE IS FAITHFUL

This dare isn't talking about the obvious - avoiding adultery - it is about being constant and consistent in loving my wife, no matter what happens. Whether she is responsive or not; whether she loves me in return or turns away for a time; continuing to faithfully give my love in all weather.

Now we are going really well in our relationship. But there were long periods of time which were rocky. For various reasons. The second time I went through the Love Dare, I was really searching my heart. This is what I wrote:

"Day 22 Love is faithful
"Faithful to God, faithful in loving Liz all the time. Not being influenced by feelings of rejection or hurt, but loving Liz unconditionally in all of our good AND bad times.
" reading:
"A good tree can't produce bad fruit.
A bad tree can't produce good.
So every bad fruit in my life comes from a bad root. Every good fruit comes from a good root.

"What are the bad fruit in my life?
What are their roots?
Can they be traced back to a judgment of some sort on one of my parents? (or both)

"Why if I know Gods love do I feel so insecure?
"Why do I need Liz' affirmation?
"Why do I need to please people?
"Why can't I firmly hold my own opinions?
"Why do I put my head in the sand?
"Why do I put off important or urgent tasks?
"Why is confrontation such a big issue for me?"

In this chapter of The Love Dare, the author brings in the story of the prophet Hosea, with his wife who rejected his love, but God called Hosea to remain faithful.

I never doubted Liz' faithfulness. I knew she loved me. But various factors, some caused by me, had put terrible pressure on our relationship.

So I think what happened was that I interpreted things she said and did to be rejection of me. I think also that maybe things I said and did made her also feel rejected and unloved.

What I see now is that love doesn't react. It stays faithful. Faithful includes the word "faith". So true faithfulness must include hope which is an element of faith.

Therefore for me, my challenge is to always seek to bring hope into our family life and into our relationship. To always be quietly faithful, dependable. Not forcing my presence or my opinions. Just faithfully there for Liz, no matter what comes our way. To be a rock she can depend on.