77s and Cat Steven’s

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While on my walk, listening to my playlist, two songs came on back to back that reminded me of my beautiful wife. 77s “This Is The Way Love Is” and Cat Steven’s “Hard Headed Women”.

When I gave up, you held up
When I ran out, you filled me up
When I kept runnin', you kept up
When I let you down, you lifted me up
When I couldn't find the words, you understood
When I didn't find the time, you were in no hurry
When I wouldn't make ends meet, you tied them together
When I cheated, you kept to the rules
This is the way love is

I'm looking for a hard headed woman
One who'll take me for myself
And if I find my hard headed woman
I won't need nobody else.
I'm looking for a hard headed woman
One who'll make me do my best
And if I find my hard headed woman
I know the rest of my life will be blessed

When I hear these lyrics I am reminded at once of her immense patience and forgiveness and at the same time her unwavering commitment to what is right.
It seems we have a tendency to live most of our lives going from one guardrail to the other. Either focusing on forgiveness and love at the expense of the truth of right and wrong, or focusing on truth and judgement at the expense of love and compassion. I believe both are equally tragic, and contrary to the example we have in Christ.
I am reminded of the fact that the word “love” appears 47 times in the Gospel of John. On average 2.2 times per chapter. The word truth or true is used 49 times in the Gospel of John. On average 2.3 times per chapter. FYI, the other most frequently used words are; know (131), believe (98), world (78), life (47), witness (47), word (45), and judge (31).
I am convinced, when reading the Word, that there is no true Love without Truth, as well as there is no Truth without Love.
I have been blessed to have a wife who has shown me love and forgiveness and at the same time held me accountable. She has shown me an imperfect glimpse of Jesus. An earthly model of how much Christ loves me and continues to forgive me and love me despite my flaws, an earthly model of how (in concert with his love) Christ holds me accountable to his truth and pushes me to be a better person.
I am brought to the conclusion…
Love never gives up.
Love never gives in.

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