What's love got to do with it?

                              

Tina Turner is a shining example to all of us.  She performed her last set of live concerts at the age of 69...still strutting her stuff! Let our motto be: Keep strutting while we still have stuff to strut!

Now that I mention Tina's song in my title, you may not be able to get the tune out of your head. Let's hum along and discuss what love really does have to do with it.

We Empty Nesters have seen much love come and go throughout our lifetime.  We witness love inhabiting various forms as we travel through the years. Our sex-crazed society and lust-filled media don't point us to the godliest of destinations in our pursuit of real love.

Most regard love as an adjective.  It is a way we want to feel.  It is our lover's job to ignite that feeling in us each and every day.  That's a tough task and a big ask. It is not practical as we seasoned sorts have come to know. We have to be "real"istic to relish in real love. 

Love can feel warm, cozy, supportive, engaging, compelling, and captivating. That's where it is born but that's not where it is sustained.  Genuine love lived-out is a verb.  We express our love with tangible action and other-centered ways.  

False/counterfeit love is that dreaded "second hand emotion." It is dependent to give by what it has already received. It is a feeling to be felt and a burden to carry.

If you are still on the hunt for this real love, I hope you find it soon and live in it long.

True love leads to true action repeated over and over and over again.  If we've been with a special someone for awhile, that means day after day into year after year.  This shows up most beautifully in the grace given and apology spoken....more than the heart-shaped box of chocolates received.

"Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?" 💔 You do, my friend! 

The giving, the taking, the serving, the waiting is all worth it! 

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On this the day of my 37th wedding anniversary.......after that many trips around the sun with my man......I reflect on what has gotten us to this point........

triumph and trial

travels by the mile

passion and cause

accepting our flaws

achievement and work

putting up with each quirk

learning and loosing

laugh when amusing

relationship and regret

faults to forget

baby cries / sad goodbyes

child rearing / team cheering

cooking meals / shopping deals                                                                    

trash taken out / teaching not to pout

flag raising / God praising

plans conceived / dreams achieved                                                                     

sharing together / commitment forever

Even after 37 years, he's still learning what makes me tick.  I'm still breaking him in. That's what keeps life together challenging, yet interesting and fun!

There have been good days, not so good days, and many great days.  The great days look even greater as we reflect back on them.  I need to reflect back more often! If and when I do, I have eyes more open to see God's goodness.  My God has been very, very good to us.....to me!

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 We aren't who we were.                     .                                       

We aren't who we'll be.

We are who we are.

Yet we've come so far.