My wife, Angela, and I have been married for 23 years coming up this December. Our anniversary is a time that I like to try to surprise her with a special gift whenever possible. Some years have been better than others. I try to listen for clues that reveals something special on her heart. She had always wanted to take a limo ride, so one year I surprise her with a limo that escorted us to a special getaway. A couple of years ago she had expressed the desire to take a horse & carriage ride. So I contacted a company and had them meet us in our downtown area. I played it cool and acted surprised as we drove downtown that evening (at a prearranged time). Angela noticed the horse and carriage as we drove by. I said, "Let's stop and see if we can get a ride!" I had passed it up and turned around as if I had no idea it was going to be there. We walked up to the driver and there we see a "Happy Anniversary" banner. We then proceeded to go on our very own 2 hour buggy ride. The horse and carriage were decked out with lights.
Perhaps the biggest surprise I ever gave my lovely bride on our anniversary (and one that I have not been able to top) was on our seventh anniversary. Our wedding was very simple. What made it very special were all our friends and family. We had no big reception. The reception involved punch, nuts, mints, and cake. The whole wedding cost us $500.00. But my wife had borrowed a wedding dress from a friend of a friend. Several years later I contacted the friend of the friend who had the dress to see if I could purchase the dress. Angela had been the last one to wear it and as it turned out the lady had actually divorced her husband and no longer wanted the dress. I purchased the dress and had it cleaned and boxed. The evening of our anniversary I presented Angela with the gift (we were staying at the Galt House in Louisville, KY). She carefully unwrapped the paper and opened the box. She immediately recognized the dress and burst out with a gasp, followed by tears.
I love my wife and this is why I attempt to give her special expressions of my love to her. If I were to do these special things because I have to, or out of a sense of duty, then I take the special right out of it.
The same is in my worship to God. This morning I listened to a devotional that dealt with how we approach God with our worship... is it an expression of love or out of a sense of duty that we worship the Lord?
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