The Love Choice

Once upon a time a lady named Sonya was preparing to ask her husband for a divorce— as soon as she figured out how to make it as painful as possible. The man had broken her heart. He was sorry and claimed to have changed, but Sonya couldn’t let herself trust him.

Around that time Sonya met an old friend for coffee. The other lady felt sorry for Sonya when she heard what her husband had done, so when Sonya asked if she’d help her come up with the best way to get him back, the woman agreed. She came up with what both women thought was an excellent idea. Sonya was to go home that very day and set about doing everything she could do to make her husband happy. Are you confused? Hang on. You’ll get it. The plan was for Sonya to make her husband think he was the best thing since sliced bread. She was to pretend that she loved him with all of her heart—and act accordingly. Only then, once her husband was secure in her love, was the woman supposed to drop the divorce bomb and walk out on him. This, the two ladies decided, would be the ultimate payback. Surely, he’d be heartbroken and he would finally understand her pain.

Several months later, the two women ran into each other again. The other lady was shocked to hear that Sonya’s marriage wasn’t only intact, it was blooming! “What happened?” she asked. “I thought you were going to leave him.” Sonya explained that she had set out to work the plan but strangely, the more love she showed her husband, the more her wounded heart had healed. She was as surprised as anyone that her feelings had followed her actions.

This isn’t meant to be a marriage counseling segment. I just think today’s story can serve as a powerful reminder across the board. Our culture may paint love as a feeling, but God’s word teaches that love is an action and we get to choose whether or not we’ll put it in motion.

Hugs, Shellie