I’ve spent a lot of time this week thinking about love, and romance and all those sappy quotes that most of us love (even if in secret.)

You know, “All because two people fell in love.”

Or “If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you’ve made me smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand.”

How about “You know you truly love someone when everyday you meet is like the first time you fall in love.”

I did a search for “love quotes” and Google came up with an impressive 322,000,000 in o.16 sec.

Those quotes make most of us feel good, touching a spot in our hearts that’s typically not touched on a daily basis.

Can I tell you something?

Promise you won’t throw anything?

They are wrong.

Remember, you promised not to throw anything.

Those quotes, they are wrong.

I love those gushy, fuzzy, warm, feel-good moments just as much as the next gal.

But you know what I don’t like, (can I just be real for a moment?) I don’t like the expectation that these type of warm fuzzy moments create.

“All because two people fell in love.”

But you see, our lives, our marriages are not simply a mere product of two people falling in love.

All because two people stayed in love.

All because two people chose love.

All because two people died to self  for love.

Those quotes, however, aren’t going to sell a greeting card and sure aren’t going to create a gushy feeling.

But those quotes, those are love, the real love. The love God has called us to live out. Daily.

The Imperfect Wives theme for 2012 is “Living Intentionally Free.”

Can I just tell you how loudly that has resonated with me?

Intentional. Done with purpose.

“All because two people were intentional in love.”

I want to be intentional in my daily relationship with my husband, how about you?

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

 

We must daily take up our cross, following Him on this journey as an Imperfect Wife. Following Him at learning how to live intentionally. Following Him in dying to self.

Ladies, if we are going to have the type of relationship we desire with our husbands, we must be intentional about our daily choices, words, actions & decisions. 

Intentional. Done with purpose.

Are you ready to live 2012 intentionally? Join us on the journey and see what God has in store for you and your marriage.

Picking up my cross,

Barb

photo courtesy of  photostock @ freedigitalphotos.net