27 – Don’t Forget

By JAMES PECK

 

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:11-13)

Lisa and I went on one date before I left for Oklahoma to go to college. I had just graduated high school and I asked her dad if I could take his daughter out on a date. Talking to her dad was one of my dad’s rules and it didn’t help that Lisa’s dad was our pastor. He eventually said yes, but he may or may not have split my head open with a prop sword in the church passion play shortly after I asked. His message was delivered and noted. (And he still says it was an accident.)

After risking my life for this girl, I did get to take her out to Ol’ Mexico for our first date. The next day I got in the car and was off for higher education. I still remember my parents telling me, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Lisa sent weekly letters and I usually replied, which amazed my mom because it took months for me to finish the thank you cards from my grad party. We kept every letter we wrote and still have many of them, the ones that survived a flooded basement after we were married. When a pipe burst, Lisa’s wedding dress and these love letters were the most valuable treasures to us.

She has been Mrs. Peck for 19 years now. Those years that we spent separated by seven hundred miles and four states taught us how to express our love to each other in words, in doodles and in thoughtful notes. There are times when I’m not feeling the same love and I think of Jesus’ words to a church whose love had grown cold, “…do the things you did at first.” (Revelation 2:5) Lisa still loves to get little notes with a heart to dot the “i” in her name.

Loving one another is at the top of God’s priorities for us as followers of Jesus. Somewhere along the line we sometimes forget to love those dearest to us in the little ways they find most meaningful. Let’s not forget what is at the core of God’s heart: “Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)

 

TALK ABOUT IT

What is one of your favorite memories of your dating time?

What are some of the little things you loved doing for each other in your dating season?

Think about some meaningful, unexpected ways to show love to your spouse.

 

 

James and Lisa Peck are Associate Pastors at Redeeming Love Church and serve at their children’s elementary school in White Bear Lake.