Relationships

Relationships
tim pezzelle
2011-03
 
here's a bit of wisdom regarding relationships that i am privileged to pass along to you:
 
"come, let us glorify the Lord together".
 
that's it.  everything we need to know about healthy relationships is packed into that one, simple, seven word sentence.  i wish i could take credit for the brilliance it contains; but, you see, i got it from sherry.  but she can't take credit for it either.  sherry got it from God.  Psalm 34:3
 
"Glorify the LORD with me;
   let us exalt his name together."
 
the idea contained in this simple phrase is the cornerstone upon which relationships should be built.  sherry included this in her vows at our wedding.  she wrote it on every anniversary card she gave to me.  she painted it on the bedroom wall behind the shelf that held our wedding picture.  when the way forward was unclear, she would hold me and whisper the words.  for nearly twenty-nine years, in all these big and little ways, she was declaring her heart's desire for us as a couple.  for nearly twenty-nine years i didn't see the full significance of the beauty of this simple plea: "glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together".
 
it's beginning to sink in.  i'm starting to see this idea unfold - like a flower opening itself to the light of a new day - and it is beautiful!  i think God occasionally turns the lights on in an otherwise poorly lit corridor of our brains (and hearts) and gives us the chance to see clearly what was perhaps unseen.
 
it isn't complicated - there are really only two ideas we need to embrace.  the first is the idea of "together".  sherry saw this in a way that simplified it for me.  for us to be "together" meant that she was for me and i was for her.  we would be each other's biggest cheerleader.  we would find ways to support each other's crazy visions.  we would stand in the gap for each other when it was needed. we would call each other out when it was needed.  to be "together" did not mean that we had to share common pursuits - it meant that we would empower each other in those pursuits.  as you might guess, sherry was a good measure ahead of me in the practical exercise of this idea.   as with many things in life, being able to see and understand an idea is often much simpler than living the idea.  it's very easy to say "i am for you".... it is much less easy to live "i am for you".  this requires a spirit of selflessness and sacrifice that comes only by the Grace of God.  sherry had this spirit.
 
the second idea is also very simple.  i would start by asking you to consider this question:  to what end are we "glorifying the LORD" or "exalting his name"?  is this for God's benefit?  does He, from time to time, forget how great He is?  does He require our pat on the back?  i really don't think that's the case.  God's glory is God's story.  the dynamic which should drive our relationships with each other is the communication of God's story. we are the salt and light of the world - Psalm 34:3 is calling us to live it on purpose.  together.


 
lest i loose your generous attention....  what would those around us see if we lived relationships defined by this simple scripture:  "glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together"?  they would see people living sacrificially for each other in ways that draw attention to the wonders of God.  they would see people buoyed by the power of forgiveness.  they would see people humbled by graceful expressions of God's love.  perhaps they would see God as He should be seen.
 
are you in the midst of a relationship on the rocks?  i'm certainly no expert, but i can say that if you are willing to turn Psalm 34:3 loose in your relationships, they will never be the same. for nearly twenty-nine years, sherry refused to let us stray from Psalm 34:3.  it was a beautiful thing.
 
thank you sherry!