Dreams of love, Part II

Hey there! I'm awfully glad that I didn't scare you off with my introduction yesterday!

When the honeymoon is over, and the first few days and weeks turn into months, and then years, the passion that burned fiery hot will sometimes become a weak flame. For some it will die away to an ember.
Some dreams of love will become nightmares. Divorce is becoming more of a "normal" occurrence in this era, and marriages that last for many years are surprising to some people.

My hubby and I have been amused at first, and then concerned about a female "redbird" or cardinal that lives here at our house. She will consistently fly into windows and mirrors --- again and again. Perched on the window of our car, she will attack the "bird" (reflection) in the side mirror; she'll collide with it over and over, never seeming to learn her lesson. And she'll do the same thing at our window.
There may be Christian ladies reading this post today that are tired of "banging their head against the wall" in a marriage that does not bring them joy. There may be others who are tired of trying and trying to find "Mr. Right." We each have a God-given desire to love and be loved.
Can we make our dreams of love come true?

I think we can find some insights to help us re-kindle our dreams of love, in Paul's letter to the Philippians. Let's look at some verses together --- you may think at first that these are just about unity in the church, but these are principles that can help couples too, and also help those who are dating.

Let's look at Chapter 2, and concentrate first on verse 1:

1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,

Hmmmm.
When was the last time you encouraged your loved one . . . the most recent time that you praised him with encouraging or comforting words?  You see, life itself is difficult. We can all use some pats on the back, praise, and encouragement from time to time --- and the more often we get it, the better!

Hebrews 10:25
not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.

Hebrews 3:13
But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Now let's look back at that verse, and go a little further:

1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love,

There's another concept to make our flame of love burn a little more brightly; to make our dreams of love come true: to comfort our loved one.
I truly think that to comfort someone is to put our love into action.

1 Thessalonians 4:18
Therefore comfort one another with these words.

and . . .

1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.

Comfort truly draws two souls together. Listen to what the novelist George Eliot wrote:

“Oh, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away.”

We'll continue our thoughts on dreams of love tomorrow . . .