DO WE NEED TO EARN LOVE? – PART 2 (FINAL)

Unified Lawyers, a law firm in Australia, published an infographic that sheds light on the reality of marriage and divorce. It’s very surprising how high the divorce rate is.

The countries with the highest divorce rate are: 
Luxemburg (87%), 
Spain (65%), 
France (55%), 
Rusia (51%), 
U.S.A (46%), 
Germany (44%)

Most divorced by religion: 
Christian 37%

Most divorced by reason: 
Incompatibility (44%),
Infidelity (18%),
Drug/alcohol addiction (9%),
Physical/mental abuse (6%),
Others (23%).

::: GRACE IS GREATER THAN DIVORCE 

This week I received an invitation from a friend who will remarry.
I am very happy for her.

A few years ago,
her ex-husband left her,
but was not willing to file for divorce,
perhaps because of his visa issue in her home country, lifestyle, irresponsibility, avoiding monetary obligations.
Meanwhile, 
my friend tried to fix her marriage,
but in vain, her ex’s heart hardened.
Then, she filed for divorce,
moved on with her life,
mingled again and now is getting married!

Marriage involves vows or covenant.
Spouses will provide for each other,
basic needs, including sex.
But when one side breaks the covenant,
with infidelity,
with neglect and abuse,
with abandonment,
damage had been done,
no more trust and happiness,
marriage is broken,
divorce is permitted.

But sadly, 
nowadays in our culture, 
the meaning and purpose of marriage
often is one of convenience. 
When it gets uncomfortable, 
we say we are incompatible,
and it’s the end, divorce.

It’s easy to say,
when marriage failed,
lick your wounds and move on.
Divorce is soul tearing,
yet a choice must be made.
After struggling with
frustration and shattering pain,
anger and resentment,
emotional breakdowns,
stop holding on to it.
Try not to dwell on the past,
be not obsessed with the future.
Live in the here and now,
with a feeling of total peace.
Nothing, not even a divorce,
could separate us from God’s love.

::: THE MARRIAGE TANGO 

One morning during breakfast in the Maier’s Land of Happiness.
Me: I noticed that my glass of fresh orange juice is always fuller than yours. 
Tobias: I give you more because I know you love orange juice. I’m living by the motto: happy wife, happy life.

I learned,
submission is the flip side of the coin of love.
Submission doesn’t mean passivity nor being dominated by someone.
It is commitment, to prioritize the other person wellbeing above our own.

Many generations of Christian misunderstood
the concept of the husband as the head of the family, 
as if male authorities has the final say.
The truth is,
like Christ gave Himself to His church,
husbands ought to lay down,
elevating the wives’ wellbeing,
so wives can flourish.
And vice versa.
It’s astounding.

Love and submission to one another,
in marriage.
It’s mutual,
it’s reciprocal,
no one loses.
It’s back n forth like a tango,
marriage is beautiful.

May our marriage life,
be healthy and flourishing,
retelling the story of Christ.

::: LOVE SHOWS IN ACTION

I love chili,
I love pizza,
I love my husband,
I love the Big Bang Theory on Netflix,
I love Trevor Noah!

Love, 
in our culture is like a clunky fuzzy word.

Love, it refers to 
something that I have preference for,
something that I’ve given a lifelong commitment to, 
something that anchors me,
nostalgia, desire and affection,
feeling involved, etc.

As the follower of Jesus, 
love is the greatest commandment. 
To love God and to love people. 

But, what is the definition of love?

As I looked in the Bible,
the meaning of love is not abstract, 
Jesus gave His life for us.
Love involves feeling,
but primarily it refers to action
for the well-being of another person regardless of how they respond.

The act of love:
Love is patient and kind,
it’s not jealous nor envious,
it’s not boastful,
it’s not proud nor arrogant,
it’s not rude. 
It’s not self-seeking nor selfish, 
it’s not provoked nor irritable, 
it doesn’t keep record of the wrongdoings of others,
It doesn’t revel when others grovel,
but takes pleasure in the flowering of truth. 
Love never gives up, 
always trust God, 
always hopeful,
doesn’t look back,
but keeps going to the end.
‭‭(1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-7‬)

Love never dies.

::: CHRIST’ ONE-WAY LOVE

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s so utterly profound.
This is the love that grounds us,
this is the one-way love,
that precedes and pre-exists 
before Jesus arrived.
It’s not what we do to gain Father’s love.

Before I understood the truth,
most of my experiences about love 
are based on an understanding 
that I need to do something
to make myself desirable, 
to be known, 
to be lovable to others. 
It then drives how I appear to others. 
I was deprived to be pleased by others.
I shriveled emotionally, physically and spiritually 

Now, I understood,
I am the beloved.
If we allow lover, family, friends, stranger 
to determine wether we’re loved or not,
their acceptance and rejection,
will suffocate us.

Even when the world doesn’t love us,
dare to reclaim the truth,
that we’re God’s beloved.
His life for us defines love.

Love,
Titien 

“And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church.
For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her.
In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:21-23, 25, 28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:7-12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

*************************************************************************

::: UPDATE ABOUT ME 
1 Year 9 Months Post Biopsy
Midline Pontine Glioblastoma/DIPG Grade IV

After I received avastin chemo last Wednesday, I felt slightly better than 2 weeks ago.

I could walk further, my speech was clearer, my right arm was stronger.

My parents will visit me in March! 
Can’t wait to see them.

I appreciate your continued prayer support 🙏

PS: Please feel free to share my posts. Don’t forget to subscribe to get updates on your email. Thanks 🤗

Sunday waffle-day by chef Tobias👨‍🍳 I never knew a lot of butter is needed! A lot.. until I found new butter was missing from the fridge
Notice the difference? 🙀☺️🥰
Sunday breakfast at 7 am 😂 while you’re still sleeping 😴
Santa Claus is in the hause🎅🏼..😹 (Received a call, my shower-lift will be delivered next Monday 👌)


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

%d bloggers like this: