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Words from the
Honeycomb - Blog

That's Love

12/14/2019

10 Comments

 
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Guest Blogger: This week, I am blessed to have my friend April Estes guest blog for me. We met at the first writers conference I ever attended and connected instantly. We literally shut down the party as we were the last ones in the lobby at 11 pm the first night. She just published her first book The Pearl of Great Price.  The book explores the struggles Christians have to stay strong in our marriages in a very genuine and relatable way. I thoroughly enjoyed her book! Here she shares a lesson on love from one of the scenes.

That's Love

I’ve recently published a book, The Pearl of Great Price. In the book there is a touching scene between the main character, Lacey, and her grandfather. Lacey had just suffered a break-up, and tearfully bemoaned to her grandfather how she had made a fool of herself, “jumping in full force into a relationship with no guarantees of any kind of return” - giving her all without knowing how things would turn out.

“But, sweetie,” the grandfather tenderly says, “That’s what love is. That’s what it does.” (That quote inspired one of my songs that says, “That’s what love is, that’s what it does: jumps full-in at full throttle, just because...”)

You see, love sometimes DOES look ridiculous: it’s a father running to his wayward, prodigal son; a mother placing her son in a watery basket; a queen risking her life for a minority people; the savior of the world coming to save, through death. But that’s what love does: it gives all - not without fear, but in spite of it. It gives everything it’s got with no guarantees, no promise of return.  The Bible says love “isn’t selfish, thinking one’s own self,” but, rather, is “full of hope, believing all things are possible.” (I Cor. 13). So, today, if you’re feeling a bit “ridiculous,” fear not! That’s what love is! That’s what it does!

  • When have you chosen to love when it was hard?
  • How have you felt God's love for you in tough times?

Biography: April Estes was born and raised in middle Tennessee, where she enjoyed growing up in a small, Southern town. She attended Freed-Hardeman University, and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Mississippi State University with an Elementary Education degree. She taught school in Americus, Georgia, before starting a family and moving all around the South USA, homeschooling four children. She enjoys songwriting in her spare time.
10 Comments
Jimmie A. Kepler link
12/16/2019 10:46:42 am

I loved the article. "But that’s what love does: it gives all - not without fear, but in spite of it. It gives everything it’s got with no guarantees, no promise of return." really touched me.

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Joanna Eccles link
12/16/2019 07:21:53 pm

Love is a little scary with how reckless it feels sometimes. It reminds me how much God loves us. God demonstrated His own love towards us in this, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us! Now that's some awesome love!

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A. Estes link
12/16/2019 07:29:39 pm

Thank you! Yes, love has no guarantees

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J.D. Wininger link
12/16/2019 01:58:48 pm

Will be looking to read more from Mrs. Estes in the future. Thank you for this introduction into this sweet person.

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Joanna Eccles link
12/16/2019 07:19:55 pm

Glad to introduce my dear writing friends to each other!

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A. Estes link
12/16/2019 07:29:21 pm

Thanks, J.D.! I have a book The Pearl of Great Price in Amazon (christian fiction) and a weekly blog at www.sweetmimosa.blog

Reply
Candyce Carden link
12/17/2019 07:41:28 am

I love your biblical examples of ridiculous and wreckless love. The idea to "love in spite of fear" sounds more doable than to love "without fear."

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Joanna Eccles link
12/19/2019 09:16:51 pm

Yes, there can be elements of fear to love, but recognizing they are surmountable gives us wings!

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Katherine Pasour link
12/17/2019 01:32:16 pm

Loving when it is hard..."let me count the ways!" What a wonderful post, Joanna and April. I think perhaps marriage is one of the best examples of loving when it is hard. There are so many blessings through the partnership of marriage, but it is hard, even in the best of marriages, there are trials. But, God shows us the path to traverse those valleys and trudge back up the mountain.

Reply
Joanna Eccles link
12/19/2019 09:18:07 pm

In marriage, or even in family, sometimes it is harder than others to love, but God gives us His love for others.

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    Joanna Eccles has led Bible studies for over ten years and completed the year-long C. S. Lewis Fellows Program.  She is passionate about discipleship and helping people know God better. Joanna enjoys coffee, traveling, and reading, and currently lives in Virginia.

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