If that's not love, what is?

Have you seen “Fiddler on the Roof”? The other night we went to a production of “Fiddler on the Roof” put on by a group of young people, including a young woman in our church family. As I contemplated what to write in this “email of God’s love,” I thought of the song Golde and Tevye sing, “Do You Love Me?”

How does this simple humorous song apply to God’s love?

If you are familiar with the story, you know that Golde and Tevye are a married couple with 5 daughters living in a Jewish village in Russia during the time leading up to the downfall of tsars. In their tradition (another powerful theme in the play!), marriages are arranged by parents, along with the help of a matchmaker. In the song, Tevye says that the first time he and Golde met was on their wedding day and his parents said they would grow to love each other. Now, 25 years later, he wonders if that is true.

Golde’s answer to Tevye’s question (Do you love me?) includes these lines:

For 25 years I’ve washed your clothes,

cooked your meals, cleaned your house,

given you children, milked your cow,

For 25 years I’ve lived with him,

fought with him, starved with him,

25 years my bed is his,

If that’s not love, what is?

Golde and Tevye have been together 25 years without even thinking about whether they love each other. In the song, Golde lists many things she has done for Tevye over the years -- the actions, not the feelings. Then she says, “If that’s not love, what is?” What she does is love, sometimes in spite of her feelings of exasperation, impatience, and disagreement with Tevye -- which we see throughout the play.

So actions are love. What are the actions that show God’s love? Many things come to mind: his creation of the world and giving it to us humans to care for; his gift of his son Jesus; his gift of the Holy Spirit to fill us with his love and make us able to show his love to others; the loving people he has given us who care for us; the many marvels and miracles of what we learn in science, literature, physics, philosophy; and so much more. Through the actions of others -- whether they are aware of it or not -- we receive God’s love. Through our own actions we show God’s love.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk

through the darkest valley.

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

--Psalm 23

If that’s not love, what is?

What can I pray about for you?

love and blessings,

Mavis

If you would like to send me specific prayer requests and are reading this as an email message, just reply. I will gladly pray with you. If you are reading this in my blog, email me at mavis at moonfamily.cc. I'll keep all communication confidential.

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Why Christian 2019 - Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA April 5-6, 2019

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