The Perfect Anniversary Gift

Love is about compromise. That is what we hear all the time about relationships. But remember, we live in a society that does not honor God. When I really think about pure and true love, I know in my heart and soul, that love is about sacrifice, not compromise. Compromise means that the two meet in the middle on an issue. Sacrifice means that we totally surrender to the other person. Compromise means both people get something, while sacrifice means that only one person is getting their way. Maybe so many marriages are failing today because we expect compromise from our mates, instead of sacrifice from ourselves.

Today is my anniversary. I have spent the last eight years married to James, my love and my partner. I am so blessed to have him in my life. James makes me feel loved. When James proposed, he said he couldn’t promise me extravagant things or money, but he could promise me that I would have all of his love. When I look back, I know that he has kept that promise to me, not because of compromise, but because of sacrifice. He has always made me feel as though my happiness was more important than his own.

The book of First Corinthians, chapter 13 says that love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t prideful. Love doesn’t seek for its own good. Love doesn’t keep score. Paul is telling us in a nutshell that love is all about sacrifice. It’s all about giving yourself to another.

Christ was the ultimate model of love. He sought His Father’s will, not his own. As Jesus prayed in the garden, he prayed if it was possible, that the cup pass from him, but above all that God’s will would be done (Matthew 26:39). Jesus was facing death. Jesus was facing anguish and pain, but Jesus refused to compromise. He would lay down His life in obedience to God. He gave His life to show love. Jesus chose sacrifice. Jesus chose God’s way, without compromise.

Romans 5:8 says that God showed his love toward us by Christ’s death, even when we were still sinners. God’s love was is not conditional on our behavior. God loves us and has proven His love by Christ’s death, even when we were still living in our sin. We didn’t have to turn from our sin and turn to Christ before Christ would give His life. The sacrifice was made, regardless of our choice.

Loving those around us is the second great commandment. The first is to love God wholeheartedly. We show our love to God by keeping His commands (John 14:15). I encourage you to look at love through God’s eyes. I encourage you to look at your relationships, whether friendships or marriages, and discover the ways that you can sacrifice yourself to that person to show love. Who needs to feel love in your life? Who needs your time? Who needs your service? What can you give to show your love?

When I took my vows to my husband eight years ago, my vows were not dependent on James keeping his vows. My vows said that I would give myself to James, I would serve him no matter what life sent our way. Nothing says love like sacrifice and as I searched for the perfect gift to give James for our anniversary, I realized that I was the perfect gift. Giving of myself to him, considering him first, speaks volumes more than my words and material gifts could ever say. It’s a costly gift because it means putting my wants and desires aside to serve the one I married. It means there will be times that in exhaustion, I will serve. In times of hurt, I will serve. In times of happiness, I will serve. Yes, it’s a costly gift, but it is my calling as a woman of God. In serving James, I honor God.

God, you have called us to love. You have loved us so perfectly. You have given us your Son, a sacrifice, to prove and model Your love for us. Show us how to love your way. Show us how to give ourselves to You and to our loved ones. Open our eyes to their needs and their desires. Give us the energy and desire to meet those needs. Show us how to serve others with our lives and give our service to others as an offering to not only them, but to You. God, help us to love our friends and our spouses, even when we don’t feel loved by them. Give us Your perfect love for others, especially when we find them difficult to love. God we love You. God we want to serve You. God we thank You. In the precious name of Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, we pray. Amen.

"Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift." 2 Corinthians 9:15