HELP US START OVER
By Anita Corrine Donihue, When I'm On My Knees

DEAR LORD, when did it change, this marriage of ours? When did we begin
falling out of love? He used to give me flowers. I used to make his
favorite dish. He used to say I was pretty. I used to wear his favorite
dress. He used to touch my hair. I used to rob his back. We used to make
special time for each other. A squeeze of the other's hand three times sent
a magic, silent message, "I love you." What a priceless treasure, our
love. Now it's slipping through our fingers, perhaps never to return.
If there is ever a glimmer of love, I don't know where it is. Yet,
no matter how small, You, Lord, can find it.

Shield us from the negative influence. Wrap us in your protective
arms. Keep us from temptation to do wrong.
Help us start over. Fan that tiny flame of love and help it grow.
Let us remember that no matter how suave or eloquent we sound to others,
it's all a clanging noise if we no longer share our love for each other. We
can be wise and give all the best advice to our friends; but without love,
it doesn't amount to anything.

Lord, teach us patience and kindness, even when things aren't going
right. Teach us thoughtfulness. Help us put our marriage ahead of things
pressing in on our lives. Show us how to build one another up instead of
competing. Let us be willingly inconvenienced for one another's needs and quick to go the second mile, then the third. Calm our emotions that we may
be slow to anger. Teach us to compliment and praise, to overlook times when the other messes up, to release childish, selfish attitudes.
Help us protect, not neglect; trust, not dishonor. Grant us strength
to persevere in finding our lost love before it is too late. Even when our
love fails, Yours never fails. Let Your love shine through us.
Fan our glimmer, Lord, and I will begin with three squeezes of my
beloved's hand and an "I love you."

Keep loving because of.
Keep loving in spite of.
Keep loving when to love is most difficult.
Keep loving when you have no strength.
Keep loving because Jesus loves you
in good times and bad,
on mountain tops and valleys.
When all else fails,
Keep loving.