"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart" (Proverbs 3:3 NIV).
Before retiring, my husband Tony spent almost twenty-four years in the military. As a civilian, he still deploys frequently. It’s been one of the most challenging issues affecting our marriage and children. We’re in a consistent “fight” for the relationship to stay close. Though difficult, it’s achievable.
Staying close to people by sharing our journeys and time is crucial for growing closer to God. For me, those people are my immediate family members. If I choose between fellowshipping with them virtually or physically, I’ll choose the latter—every time. Sadly, that’s almost impossible when your spouse travels four-six months out of the year.
Daily, we send pictures of what we’re doing when separated. Sometimes, I’ll snap a selfie at my computer writing. I’ll also send a quick hello with a picture in the office waiting for a client. My husband does the same. His practice is to send a blessing and prayer over the family attached to a photo of himself behind him, the backdrop of his latest assignment.
The bottom line is that we find ways to stay physically connected by using the visual aspects of technology. We do this through pictures, videos, and video calls. My husband carries pictures of us and displays them on his night table and desk. These are helpful ways to keep the ties closely knit as we nurture our familial relationships.
This same principle of working on deepening our family ties can be applied to our relationship with God. The word instructs us to: Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart (Proverbs 3:3 NIV). In the same way, families work to foster relationships with each other; we can do the same to develop a more profound commitment to our God by:
· Living our lives with love at the center
· Being faithful to God
· Reading God’s word
· Applying the word to our hearts
Dear Lord, show me how to actively pursue a relationship with you by spending time in your presence, reading your word, and applying your word to my life. Amen.
Your turn: How do you nurture your close relationships? How do you nurture your relationship with God?