Love Stories

Author's Website:
http://jimandmelissabrady.com

love HONOR cherish

In a traditional wedding ceremony, the minister will ask the question “Do you promise to love, honor and cherish?” and I’ve come to the conclusion that we tend to focus more on the love part than the promise to honor and cherish. I guess it’s natural to think that way, since we don’t go around saying to people “ I honor you” but rather “I love you.” Yet, to honor and cherish are just as important. If you think about it, you have to honor someone, before you even begin to love or cherish them.

So what is honor and how do you go about honoring someone? When I want to understand the full meaning of a word, I go to my thesaurus to see all of it’s synonyms. A few synonyms for the word honor are: applaud, approve, boost, celebrate, cheer, exalt and praise. I love that the word “boost” is included because one way I feel honored by Jim is when he encourages my endeavors, giving me a “boost” in the things that interest me. This, in turn, makes me feel loved.

Another way we can understand the true meaning of a word is to find the opposite meaning of that word. So, I’ve looked up the opposite of honor and a few of it’s antonyms are: berate, censure, criticize, denounce and disapprove. Ugly words. Words that can harm a relationship.

In his book I Promise, Gary Smalley says “Honor is a way of accurately seeing the immense value of a person made in the image of God.” Wow! This is an eye-opener for me and as I examine my heart, I ask “When I look at Jim, do I see him as fearfully and wonderfully made?” God says he is, and I find myself seeing him in a new light, loving him more.

If we could look at others the way God sees us, as a treasure made in His likeness, honor would come easy. In addition, we would see those around us as beautiful and full of potential. Luke 12:34 reminds us our heart is found in what we treasure. Ahh, it’s coming together now. If I honor Jim and treasure him, my heart will love him. It’s in the red letters of the Bible, reminding us that it is Jesus telling us, these feelings go hand in hand.

Now, to a practical application. As I strive to honor Jim, I’ll encourage him, applaud his efforts, celebrate him and give him praise. These things will be evident in my attitude toward him, showing him that I love and respect him and am glad he’s in my life. I want him to know I love him and will do all I can to honor him so he not only knows it, but feels it in his soul!
Who do you love? Are you honoring them? Are you giving them a “boost” and encouraging them? Do you look at them and see a treasure who is fearfully and wonderfully made? I guarantee, when you begin to honor that special someone, your love for them will grow and naturally, you’ll want to honor them more. Then again, your love will grow. See how these feelings go hand in hand? This is incredible! Let’s give honor to the ones we love knowing that, with just a little effort, our relationships will be better than we ever dreamed!

Melissa Brady
http://www.jimandmelissabrady.com