I Love You Today (Forever)

I fell in love with Lisa on July 25, 1975 --- and every day since then.

I was 18 years old when I met an 18-year-old who is now my wife. I was impressed: Amazing smile, quick laugh, cute face, very pleasing shape. That was enough to get my attention, but it was her Christian character and her high intelligence that made me keep coming back.

I fell in love with her on July 25, 1975 --- and today --- and every one of the hundreds of days in between. I love her today (forever).

We spent several hours tonight counseling another married couple, also in ministry, both needing some healing after a bad experience in a church. The stress of that toxic, unhealthy congregation has taken its toll on this marriage. Yet as we peel back the layers, stripping away the surface hurts and recent arguments --- the core of their relationship is solid and strong.

Love is a choice, not a feeling.

Has it really been three decades since the two of us, attending the same college, began to realize we shared the same values, dreamed the same dreams, and even grew up in similar families? Both of us grew up reading, our noses buried in books, emptying out the library for the trip home.

Three decades later, books that we've written are in the U.S. Library of Congress, and at our local WalMart store, and staring at us (just tonight) from the shelves of our neighborhood Barnes & Noble. Who knew, all those years ago, that two 18-year-old wannabe writers --- would end up writing?

We're still going the same direction, hand in hand, still moving forward.

We've watched a lot of our friends split up across these years. He found someone 'more interesting.' She found someone who would really listen. Both of them moved on to other relationships and began new families. How did we miss alll that trauma? How did we stay together?

I love her today (forever).

Marriage is a daily choice, a fresh decision each morning. Marriage is dying to self, honoring your partner, putting someone else's needs and wants ahead of your own. Time to become a doormat? Not ever. But definitely time to offer and serve, help and hold, support and encourage. Guess what: Life is definitely not about 'me' --- it's more about 'u' and 'us.'

Every day is today (forever).

All those years ago, did I realize that love would cost me this much, require this much, yet somehow be so valuable? No. I just knew it was real, and worth giving up my freedom for. It was, so I did.

Three decades later life is richer and more fulfilling than my most extravagant ideas. The marriage of my dreams? It's the one I'm living in today, right now --- a summer evening spent counseling others and then driving home together, counting our blessings.

We are crazy in love, or maybe just crazy.

We can't wait to get home tonight, and luckily for us there is absolutely nothing to watch on cable. We call that a perfect evening...