Love Story

A couple of weekends ago, I was spending some time with a couple of friends at the lake. One of them said she would like to read a sexy romance novel. We, of course, both looked at her strange and then she made the comment she found “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers very sexy. This is when we both chuckled to ourselves and continued to talk. This is a novel based off Hosea about a marriage between a godly man and a prostitute. It’s an awesome read, one I highly suggest. Now it isn’t sexy like you might think of a Nora Roberts’s book. It’s a romance which centers around a relationship based on God.

Last night I was thinking about this.

Have we twisted romance into something it’s not? I would have to say yes.

Most love stories revolve around nonexistent themes, giving little girls the idea they’ll have these fake romances one day. A typical romance book (not novel, because most of these books are too simple to be labeled a novel) involves some overly sensitive, yet buff male who sweeps the young lady off her feet, carries her to bed and then at some point maybe weds her. The last part is optional. Most of these books have the same storyline and after the third or fourth reading of a romance book anyone with any sense knows what will happen.  

Let’s look at a book that may or may not have the sex part. Now I’ll admit I enjoy Nicholas Sparks every now and then, although it’s been a while. Actually “A Walk to Remember” is one of my favorites. I’ve given these novels a new name. Well, I stole this name from another article: emo porn. The odds of any of these romances happening are slim to none. In fact, if the guy from “The Notebook” was real, we would call him a stalker.

This isn’t love. It’s not real and getting lost in this world is not good for you. It’s like a man who watches porn. You are going to start expecting something from men which they are not. You are going to expect a romance to blossom in a way it can. Not every love story involves a man jumping on a carousal to ask you out or a smoking hot cowboy riding up on his pony all hot and sweaty and still smelling good to ride you off in the sunset. Mr. Carousal would be either a stalker or would give up and, sorry, but the stinking cowboy is more likely to make like Matt Dillon.

These fantasies make love into something it’s not. For one thing, well, there’s carousal guy and I’ve already covered that.  Now I’m still single so I can’t comment on love or marriage or anything other than what I’ve seen. True love isn’t the sparks at the beginning or falling into love just to jump into bed. (Honestly, falling into love sounds painful. I’m not a big fan of falling. Or pain.)

The most beautiful romances I’ve seen are the ones which have gone through the trials, stood by each other’s sides, raised a family, have put up with each other for 40-60 plus years and still are hanging in there. I like to think of my grandparents. I know they’re marriage has definitely not been smooth sailing. Actually how they ended up together is kinda sweet, but that’s beside the point.

For instance, granddaddy had a total knee done about a year ago. When he came home, grandma was helping him into the house and I was standing behind for support. Right before he reached the top step they had to stop and kiss for a moment. It was incredibly sweet. Watching them is amazing and finding out their stories is also pretty cool…even the bad stuff. Because that’s what makes love amazing: going through trials together with God at the center supporting everything and coming out still in love at the end.

Now since I’ve spent the whole time talking about bad romance books let me tell you what to read. Read the Bible. It’s the ultimate love story. For the first time ever I’m almost done reading it straight through. I’ve tried before and got a little distracted. Beside the point. The Bible is the ultimate love story of a gentleman Pursuer who is patiently waiting for His bride. The more I read the more I realize how much Jesus really loves me. Which in turn makes me love Him more. My favorite book of the Bible has become Ruth, and it isn’t so much the love story between Ruth and Boaz, but because it actually represents the love story between Christ and me.

Awww, it gives me chill bumps just typing it. What more do I need, really? J