I love you!

Three little words.  I say them everyday and hear them regularly from my husband.  They've become such an expected part of our everyday life that I haven't appreciated them lately.
Last night, however, as I sat reading before turning off the light and going to sleep, my husband rolled over and said with sleep heavily on his face, "I love you, Deb, with all my heart."  I was in his last thoughts as he drifted off to sleep, and for the first time in a long time, I felt his words like a comforting and luxurious balm that covered all the wounds and bumps from my day and week, and I knew that I could count on the strength that came from those words. 
I know Jim loves me.  He is a man of action and shows his love in gifts, in acts of unselfishness, and in consideration of my desires.  However, I often lose the knowledge and gratefulness that comes from their solidness, their reliability, and the godliness of their origins.  What better blessing is there than being loved by a man who is in love with God!  A godly man's love is a blessing beyond any other in my life beside the gracious, fathomless, abundant love of God. 
I do not write this to brag, or to lift up my man above all others, but to remind myself that I am blessed and because of that blessing, I am required by the abundance of God's love and blessing to know that blessing and make it grow in me and bleed out to others.  First on my list is Jim, and then to my family and then to those around me. 
Everyone should be blessed with the glow of the words "I love you," spoken from the heart of truth and abundance and given unselfishly with no strings or addendums. 
Ephesians 1:1: Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Love smells good! It is not tinged with odors of our neediness or conditions. It is pure and enticing. This chapter is often used to model a godly marriage relationship, but it really is a guide for living in love and not selfishness.  And if we forget or neglect to get the message God left us this scripture too. 
I Thessalonians 4:9: Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.
Thank you Father for reminding me of the greatest blessing I have--godly love--manifested by Christ's sacrifice on the cross and by a godly man here on earth. I live in it's wealth.  I am blessed. I must bless also.