Happy Birthday, Mary!

 

Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised. (Song of Solomon 8:6-7 ESV).

 

Each year I use the birthday celebrations of family members as a means of focus for a particular truth from the Scripture dealing with the family. Today is Mary’s birthday. While I am bound by fear for my well-being to publish the number of candles that would need to appear on her cake, I can say that we have been married nearly 52 years after having been married at the age of 20… you do the math. That is a much safer way for me to begin this day. The picture I’ve chosen was taken in March of this year while we were touring the bluebonnets near Ennis, Texas. We were there a bit before peak, but had a wonderful time.

 

I’m sure she would have chosen a different picture. This one was taken with a bit of wind blowing her hair, no makeup on, and very casual clothes. Those things are not the typical way she would “go out in public.” Never-the-less, I think she looks beautiful and cannot imagine any better photo to make my point today. Look again at the reading for today. Solomon says, Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave (v. 6). There is something very special about a relationship willing to be “sealed” on the heart. It requires a love as strong as death and jealousy as fierce as the grave. It requires loving without limits, applying grace in every circumstance. Neither of us can make the claim to have behaved perfectly throughout our five decades together. However, we can say that we have a love without limits, with lots of grace to be applied. She has been a stalwart encourager and mainstay in my life. Her maternal instincts continue to prove themselves in her relationship with our children and grandchildren.

 

While stunning in her outward beauty, her inward beauty is much greater. This is why Solomon compares wealth to such a relationship and says, If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised (v. 7). Just a year before this picture was made I was jolted to remember that as we were faced with a life threatening emergency surgery. As you can see, she is well on the mend, doing better each week. I am so thankful for another celebration. I know not everyone can echo that sentiment. For you, I pray God will comfort you and grant you abundance in grace. For some who have not found that partner in your life, I pray you will listen to the Lord as He brings them into your life. Today, I say… HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARY! Thank you for walking with me in our journey!