HOW DO I LOVE THEE?
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Browning was born in 1806 and died in 1861. She
didn’t live very long by our current lifespan, but she made the most of her
fifty-five years with the beautiful words of her poems or sonnets, especially
this one. As I reread Sonnet 43, I thought of young love
and the passion I felt as I met, dated, and married my husband. In the early
days of our love, I walked three feet
off the ground and easily could have quoted these words to him. And I just
might have at one point or another.
But after all these years, as much as I love my husband and still feel excited and
privileged to be his wife, he is my earthly husband. I await my heavenly
Bridegroom, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
With that thought, I realized Browning’s Sonnet
43 could almost be a prayer, for I also love
my LORD to “the depth, breadth, and height my soul can reach.” I love Him “to
the level of every day’s most quiet need.” I love Him “freely” and “purely”
(well, as purely as my sinful soul can). And, I love Him with “passion…my
childhood’s faith…breath, smiles,” and “tears, of all my life…”[2] Truly, He is my All in All.[3]
Yet, pondering these words and how I love God,
I remembered a former Bible teacher explaining our Bible’s “love chapter,” I
Corinthians 13. In this short passage, God speaks through Paul of LOVE in human terms. He says love is patient,
kind, not jealous, conceited, or proud. Love
is not puffed up, rude, self-seeking, or provoked. Love thinks no evil and
doesn’t keep a long list of what our spouse did wrong. Love hates sin, rejoices
in truth, and it’s always there. Love never gives up, and its faith, hope, and
patience never fail. Love bears all things, believes, hopes, and
endures all things because LOVE is ETERNAL.[4]
“Wow,” I thought. “I fail this LOVE TEST miserably.”
But then, the teacher clarified. “While this explains how we are to
love,” she said, “it first describes how God loves us since He IS LOVE.”[5]
All of a sudden, I looked at this passage with new eyes. And now, thinking
back, I hear, “How do I love thee? Let Me, your LORD, count the ways.
“I love you to the height of heaven and as deep
as the deepest sea. I chose you and set My love on you as My special treasure.[6]
‘Rise up, My love, My fair one, and
come away. You are precious in My sight.’[7]
“With gentle cords, bands of love, and
lovingkindness, I drew you[8]
and demonstrated My love. While you
were still in your sin, Christ died for you.[9]
Through this, you saw My glory, heard My voice, turned from your sin, and
believed. You received Jesus, the Son of My Love,
as your Lord and Savior.[10]
It was then I spread My wing over you, covered your nakedness,[11]
and healed your broken heart. I set you free from the prison that kept you
bound, and I alone comforted you. My love provided beauty for the ashes of your
life, joy like oil for mourning, and I replaced your spirit of heaviness with
My garment of praise.[12]
“I, the Lord your God, am the Mighty One in
your midst who rejoices over you with gladness and singing. I will quiet you
with My love.[13]
“And what’s more, My Holy Spirit poured My love
into your heart, and nothing shall separate us.[14] So,
how do I love thee? Oh, child, these
many ways and more. Therefore, abide in My
everlasting love.”[15]
Have a blessed and Happy Valentine’s Day,
Anita
[2]
Ibid.
[3]
Colossians 3:11
[4]
Anita’s paraphrase of I Corinthians 13:4-8a
[5] I
John 4:8
[6] Deuteronomy
7:6
[7] Song
of Solomon 2:10; Isaiah 43:4
[8] Hosea
11:4; Jeremiah 31:3
[9]
Romans 5:8
[10] Deuteronomy
5:24; John 1:12; Colossians 1:13
[11] Ezekiel
16:8
[12] Isaiah
61:1-3
[13] Zephaniah
3:17
[14]
Romans 5:5; Romans 8:35-39
[15]
Jeremiah 31:3; John 15:9
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