...as Christ loved the Church

He sat there at the corner of the bakery in his motorized chair, waiting for his wife.  For so many years, he had been the strong one.  He'd worn his back out laying block, and working cement until his body just couldn't take it anymore.  But he did it with integrity and there were people far and wide that still wanted Erv to do "just a small basement" because of his reputation for quality.  I often watched him pick up his wife and children at the door of our small, country church, and if he had to wait for a few minutes for his wife to finish her chatting, he would talk with us young men/boys in a way that made us feel important.  After he had to quite concrete because the pain in his back became to great an obstacle for him to power through, he started trucking and was known far and wide for being an honorable trucker.  He even was chosen to drive the Christmas tree to Washington DC one year because of his exemplary character.  And then two accidents several years apart, took his strength from him.  He went from being the provider of the family, to needing others to care for him in his new vulnerable state.  They had others come in to renovate the home he built, so that he could continue to to live there in with very limited abilites.  He loved his wife dearly and the fact that the sparkle still so firmly resided in her eyes when he would tease her, showed the depth of affection that lay just under the surface of this big man.

But now he was crippled, stuck in a chair that couldn't  go beyond the walls of his house without someone to help him.  How do you show you wife the love we husband are commanded to in Ephesians 5:25

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her"

How do you do that when all the ways you used to "say" I love you are taken away?  No longer can you swing by the florist on the way home to bring her a few flowers for no other reason than to say "I love you."  No longer can you come home from work early to surprise her and sweep her away for an evening in town.  No longer can you do most of the driving on trips so that she can lay back and rest.  That burden now rests on her.  How do you love your wife as Christ loved the church, when so many of the things we look at that make you "a man" are taken away?  I saw one way yesterday.  All their married lives, they had walked together as much as possible.  I used to watch them park their van at church and while she would get out with the children, she waited while they charged past to get to their friends, so she could walk in holding the hand of her husband and friend.  And now, as the roles are reversed she is the one who drops him off by the door, he waits for her.  He had friends waiting for him inside and I think he could easily have gone in ahead while she drove around looking for a parking spot among the crowded streets for their big van.  But he waited.  He waited for her so once again, they could go in together.  I doubt he told her "I Love You" with words as she walked up to him after parking, but he told her with his respect.

I saw a picture of the spiritual realms in this.  Our future bridegroom Jesus, gave of himself for our behalf.  He worked to and beyond the point of exhaustion for our provision of life, and freedom from the tyranny of spiritual poverty (sin).  And ultimately, his body became broken because of His love and care for us.  But he has gone on before us and is standing, just inside heaven's door, waiting for you and me to finish our sojourn on this life, and come join Him.  Then together, we will go into the marriage supper together.  His body will still bear the scars he bore for our need, but there will be no more pain, together, we will be complete.

Thank you Ervin and Theda, for the love of Christ that you reflect so well, in your love for each other!