Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. ~I Corinthians 13:4-7
“Pick out some flowers,” he says as I wheel the cart in the doors at Fresh Market.
This is how we begin the gift together. Our weekend at home sans children; a rarity in our twenty-one years of marriage.
As he begins to pick out food, I linger longer than seems necessary over the profuse buckets of beauty. Begin to feel like a child struggling to choose which dessert I want from one hundred choices that all look so delicious.
“Get them both,” he says from the fruit bin.
“Both of them,” I ask. “That feels a bit extravagant. Do I really need that many flowers?”
He walks back to me, takes both of the big bouquets of roses from my hands and lays them in the cart. Smiles over me.
And this is the way of love: extravagant, beyond what you deserve or expect beauty that makes you want to be more, better, and give yourself away.
I want to tell you how knowing him has transformed me but I can’t find the words. And when I attempt words, the eyes become like hard rain falling on windshield. Can’t see beyond the emotion.
Redemption calling out the best of me through the way this man lives life, loves me. This is deep water. And maybe one day, He will give me the words to tell you about the love story that is mine. A story that tells how the words from the first book of Corinthians are possible and true.
Today, I will let the flowers speak what the heart struggles to say.
And wherever your weekend plans take you, may you sense and know how much God loves you.
Linking today with Scripture & a Snapshot, Pause on the Path, [I Love] Saturdays and Jumping Tandem.
Those pictures are beautiful.
Beautiful words, photos…and love!
Thanks so much Janet. Had fun taking the pictures and being with my husband!
Love. This. I think your husband and my husband would get along very well. Lovely photos, Shelly!
Kelly, we live so close to each other. I hope one day we can meet each other over lunch!
WOW these are gorgeous pictures! A beautiful message too!
Thanks! I had so much fun taking pictures one day when the light streamed in perfectly through a high window in my dining room.
How romantic!! And I can almost smell the scent of those roses – so beautiful, Shelly!
Thanks Michelle! Always good to hear from you. Loved your chair story.
Hi Shelly. I followed your link on Kelly’s blog. Lovely flowers. Lovely story. I Corinthians is indeed true. Have a beautiful weekend.
Patricia, love this link Kelly hosted so we can meet each other and enjoy the photos. So glad you clicked over to my blog, look forward to seeing yours. Blessings!
I love this and my favorite line is: And this is the way of love: extravagant, beyond what you deserve or expect beauty that makes you want to be more, better, and give yourself away. You are blessed to find such a love!
Shanda, I am so blessed. Thank God every day for His faithfulness to me. We are not perfect but perfect for each other.
Beautifully said! My heart welled up!
Aww, thanks Patsy!
Ahhhh….
Makes me smile!
Thanks so much for linking up, friend!
Me too Deidra. Will always be one of many happy memories. So happy to join you on your first link up Sunday!
Completely lovely…the photos, the verse, your words.
Thanks Elizabeth, I just can’t have enough flowers. My yard is full too. Love the beauty they bring. Thanks so much for your kind comment.
What a beautiful story!
Thank you!
I just absolutely love your presentation of the flowers! I never thought about taking pictures of the stems!
I had fun taking these because the light was so beautiful.Thanks!
Wonderful photos! Love when the light is just perfect.
“Smiles over me.”
That just caught in my heart. Amazing, extravagant love. Beautiful post.
beautiful shots and words!!
I love when we have memories like this….Roses are beautiful too….. Romantic is a word to describe this
Love the roses…beautiful!
OH MY GOODNESS, you speak my heart girl! LOVE THIS! So precious. Tears welling up now….
Beautiful! Here’s mine: http://ordinaryinspirations.blogspot.com/2011/11/you-go-before-me.html
I’d love for you to join my Capturing Beauty blog hop on Mondays. Link up with any picture. Thanks, Traci