Picture Hanger
“The whole law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:40 (R. T. France)
Hang – How do all the Law and the Prophets hang on these two? What exactly is the relationship? If you were reading this in Greek, you would notice something odd. The verb here (kremannumi) is a lengthened form of a word that is associated with the gallows. In particular, in the New Testament it is a word that described being suspended from the cross. Even this usage is a bit strange. The proper form of the verb occurs only once in the New Testament, in Matthew 18:6 where it describes a millstone hung around the neck. Most of the time the word is associated with either God’s wrath or judicial punishment. To find it in this verse in a very positive role is quite unusual.
The real background of this usage is in the rabbis. They often used the formula summation of the Torah, following the same encapsulation by the prophets. Their motive seems to be the theological reiteration that godly behavior depends on proper understanding. If we don’t truly understand God and His Torah, we will not be able to fulfill it. In this regard, the two foundational commandments (to love God and to love your neighbor) act as the platform from which all other godly actions flow. The other commandments are the realization and the actualization of these two. It is as if one could only grasp the full intention of these two, then all the rest would follow.
While this might seem perfectly obvious now, Christian theology hasn’t always been so straightforward regarding this verse. In fact, for centuries this verse was interpreted as an endorsement of the “law of love.” The WWJD movement is an example of a principle without specifics. The “law of love” theology left believers to decide for themselves how to behave in most of life’s circumstances. Bertram captures the thought: “It means rather that the love of God is seen to be the sustaining basis of all human attitudes and actions.”[1] Can I get an “Amen!”? Yes, this is true – but what does it mean when I have to make a decision about the innumerable daily actions of my existence. The “law of love” is reduced to whatever I feel is right, and that is moral chaos.
When Yeshua said that the whole Torah and the prophets are suspended from these two concepts (love of God and love of neighbor), He said something like this: Everything hangs on these two nails. Take the nails out of the wall and everything else falls into a mess.” But that isn’t the same as saying that all I need is the two nails. Try putting nails into your walls and enjoying their magnificence rather than enjoying the pictures that were supposed to hang on them. Which would you prefer?
Perhaps it isn’t so unimaginable that this odd word also describes Yeshua on the cross. Everything about Torah and the Prophets hangs on Him too. Take that nail away and it all falls down.
Topical Index: hang, nail, Torah, cross, law of love, Matthew 22:40
Thank you, Skip!
Try putting nails into your walls and enjoying their magnificence rather than enjoying the pictures that were supposed to hang on them.
Try putting nails on the cross without the torah incarnate hanging from them and finding your Salvation!
WOW PAM, WHAT AN ASTOUNDING ANALOGY…
Try putting nails into your walls and enjoying their magnificence rather than enjoying the pictures that were supposed to hang on them.
Try putting nails on the cross without the torah incarnate hanging from them and finding your Salvation!
jan
Amen sistah. Awesome. And I loved the way you expressed it.
So simple yet profound! Great word today:)
–The “law of love” is reduced to whatever I feel is right, and that is moral chaos.–
Just the facts m’am.
Who decides what is right? He does. Who (always) speaks the truth? He does. Who (Himself) is the truth? He is. Who is the Author of the Book? He is. Who is the (only righteous Judge?) He is. Who is Love Incarnate? He is.
We are not the children of darkness, we are (now, today) the children of Light. We are not the children of cloudiness, calamity and confusion,- we are the children of clarity and calm. Light is that which reveals. His Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are (now, today) the children of G-d. We are (so) privileged to call Him “Abba, Father.”
Do we live by faith? (our right-response to what He says..) or are we obedient slaves to our feelings? I didn’t “feel” like going to work today, I felt like remaining under the covers. If I were to live by my feelings- I would be hard-pressed to make a living, or go to the gym. Feelings are fickle..(to say the least!) My feelings are according to what I had for breakfast!
Faith, on the other hand, is entirely another story.. Did Abraham “feel like” sacrificing the son of promise? I may be wrong, -maybe he was overjoyed to obey his G-d, but I don’t think (maybe that’s my problem!) Abraham was moved to obey G-d by his feelings. Something much deeper was within the heart of Abraham.
Feelings (emotions) live right under our skin. Emotions are wonderful, but they are superficial and temporary. Feelings come and go and rise and fall, but “faith” remains. Faith endures and abides. Abraham’s obedience to the request (remember “na?”) of His G-d demonstrated his faith, his belief, his trust in his G-d. Abraham knew in the deepest recesses of his heart, G-d would provide (Himself) a Lamb for the sacrifice and told Isaac these very words: “G-d will provide.”
Today, ages later, we call this “Providence.” Oh, and friends..- “Providence (still) occurs!” – Hallelujah! What riches we enjoy “in Christ.” This is not “blab it and grab it” or “name it and claim it”, but if we ask anything according to His will (and this is key- according to His will), He (richly) provides for our needs, for “my G-d will fully supply your every need according to his glorious riches in the Messiah Jesus.” How do I know this? “It is written..”- He said so. ← !
“For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in G-d.” (Colossians 3.3) – What feelings does a dead man have? None. He is dead. And according to G-d’s teaching, so are we. “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6.4) – Walk in newness of life? “Therefore, just as you have received Yeshua The Messiah (Our Lord), walk in Him..” (Colossians 2.6) How did we receive Him?- By grace through faith.. – Sweetly, simply, sublimely- “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power (the right, the authority) to become the sons of G-d, even to them that believe on His name: (John 1.12) -“for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” (Romans 10.13) For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. (Romans 10.12) Straight from the Book: -“It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.” (Galatians 6.15)
“Therefore if any man (any man,- Jew or Gentile) be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5.17) Location, location, location..-(any man) “in Christ..”
“In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD (Yeshua) Our Righteousness.'” (Jeremiah 33.16)
Good word, thank you Skip!
” The “law of love” is reduced to whatever I feel is right, and that is moral chaos.”
Does ” whatever I fell right” have any relationship with the “yetser tov” – my good inclination, my desire to do what is right and good? If so, ……… that is moral chaos.
I am still looking for the evidence of the yetser tov and yerser hara being a positive attribute to human kind. Up to know I have only found “hara” and ” tov” mentioned in the tree of knowledge of good and evil – which we were NOT suppose to eat of ? Doesn’t this rabbinic concept keep us away from ONLY feasting on the tree of life?
Matthew 18:6 But who so shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Sinead O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUiTQvT0W_0
The child’s love for the parent is absolute
Nothing compares to their parents
Because the child cannot survive without them
Is that how we are to love our neighbor?
Could become a miilstone around one’s neck 🙂
oops, I forgot Matthew 18:3
And he said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven
Matthew 18:6 But who so shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Sinead O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUiTQvT0W_0
The child’s love for the parent is absolute
Nothing compares to their parents
Because the child cannot survive without them
Is that how we are to love our neighbor?
Could become a millstone around one’s neck
Michael,
sometimes i don’t understand where you are coming from or where you are going or what you are trying to convey… ??? so what’s new… !!!
In regard to: Matthew 18:6 But who so shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
I DON’T SEE MUCH OF THIS HAPPENING IN REAL TIME BUT MAYBE IN THE END WITHOUT REPENTANCE – OTHERWISE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ABUSE & MOLEST & TRAFFIC LITTLE CHILDREN WOULD BE DEAD/DROWNED IN THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA… PERHAPS IT IS AN ANALOGY…
The child’s love for the parent is absolute – NOT ALWAYS BUT SUPPOSED TO BE…
Nothing compares to their parents – AGAIN UNTRUE – ONLY IN A PERFECT WORLD…
Because the child cannot survive without them – YES, MANY CHILDREN ARE SURVIVING & LIVING WITHOUT THEIR PARENTS & ARE BETTER FOR IT…
Is that how we are to love our neighbor? – NOT SURE HOW IT COMPARES TO THE ABOVE…
Could become a millstone around one’s neck – I AM SURE IT HAS & SURE IT WILL…
jan
Matthew 18:6
But who so shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
I DON’T SEE MUCH OF THIS HAPPENING IN REAL TIME BUT MAYBE IN THE END WITHOUT REPENTANCE – OTHERWISE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ABUSE & MOLEST & TRAFFIC LITTLE CHILDREN WOULD BE DEAD/DROWNED IN THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA… PERHAPS IT IS AN ANALOGY…
Hi Jan,
I think we can interpret Matt 18:6 in many different ways, but I find it most meaningful if we interpret it as HAPPENING IN REAL TIME.
He seems to be speaking metaphorically, but I think Jesus is clearly aligning himself with God the Father, and referring to his family, which includes real children and the metaphorical Children of God.
And I think his point is that those who offend the Children of God by “taking sides” against the family will sooner or later find themselves “swimming with the fishes” at the bottom of the sea.
But unlike Jonah, God will not save them.
When I read Matt 18, I always LOL because it makes me think of the movie Heat with Al Pacino, who plays a very “fiery” cop; an “ex-Marine” with a Masters Degree, if I remember correctly.
And I should remember correctly, because I watch it every three months for inspiration 🙂
The child’s love for the parent is absolute – NOT ALWAYS BUT SUPPOSED TO BE…
Nothing compares to their parents – AGAIN UNTRUE – ONLY IN A PERFECT WORLD…
Is that how we are to love our neighbor? – NOT SURE HOW IT COMPARES TO THE ABOVE
Hi Jan,
To clarify my points above, I meant that the very young child desires the parent “absolutely” and cannot survive without the parent.
Without the parent’s love the child “dies emotionally” and without the parent’s food the child dies physically.
My point was that the young child is helpless without a parent.
Seems to me that relationship would create a sense of absolute need.
Psychologically speaking, “nothing” compares to that need.
And deep down in those memory “banks” that need is always there.
If you remember the Divine Comedy, that absolute desire is mediated Dante’s love for Beatrice.
And it leads Dante from the fiery pits to Heavenly lights.
Seems to me Jesus has commanded us to love our neighbor like that.
So I guess we do agree on our final point:
Could become a millstone around one’s neck – I AM SURE IT HAS & SURE IT WILL…
Michael, sorry kinda “shaken” second earthquake today & this one was larger 5.2 the one early this morning at 2:12am was 4.7 or 8 – i was just turning back my clocks when it started & was walking around while my house was shaking – was in bed this morning & was woke up & laid there while my bed shook… little unnerving for Oklahoma – this is your kinda activity in California…
i agree babies are born needing/wanting a parent – yes, probably DNA 4 sure but i am saying all i have read about & been presented in human trafficking – all the above is really upside down & nothing is normal or as it should be – it is evil & wicked…
i’m not sure i will ever love my neighbor like i love my own child – just not in my DNA or my blood…
jan
okay Michael – as i have gathered my thoughts after being shaken…
Hi Jan,
To clarify my points above, I meant that the very young child desires the parent “absolutely” and cannot survive without the parent. IN A PERFECT WORLD YES, BUT IN REALITY A CHILD CAN SURVIVE WITHOUT THE PARENT – HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, ESPECIALLY IN THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES…
Without the parent’s love the child “dies emotionally” and without the parent’s food the child dies physically. YES, IN A PERFECT WORLD BUT I AGREE A CHILD WILL BE DAMAGED EMOTIONALLY BUT NO DIE & WILL SURVIVE WITHOUT A PARENT’S FOOD UNLESS SOMEONE ELSE TAKES OVER & THEY DO & HAVE TOO…
My point was that the young child is helpless without a parent. I DISAGREE – A CHILD WILL BE HELPLESS WITHOUT SOMEONE – IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A PARENT…
Seems to me that relationship would create a sense of absolute need. A CHILD NEEDS SOMEONE TO BE A PROVIDER TO HELP RAISE THEM BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A PARENT & A LOT OF TIMES IN POVERTY STRICKEN OR DISASTER AREAS IT IS NOT…
Psychologically speaking, “nothing” compares to that need. THAT NEED IS BUILT IN SURVIVAL MODE FOR SURE…
And deep down in those memory “banks” that need is always there. AS IS THE APPROVAL OF A PARENT(S) DOES NOT MEAN IT WILL BE PROVIDED OR IS BUT MAY BE SOMEONE ELSE BESIDES A PARENT THAT PROVIDES SUCH FOR A CHILD…
If you remember the Divine Comedy, that absolute desire is mediated Dante’s love for Beatrice.
And it leads Dante from the fiery pits to Heavenly lights.
Seems to me Jesus has commanded us to love our neighbor like that. I SEEM TO LOVE MY NEIGHBOR AS JESUS DIRECTS ME & NOT ALL OF THEM AROUND ME –
So I guess we do agree on our final point:
Could become a millstone around one’s neck – I AM SURE IT HAS & SURE IT WILL…
ISN’T TOMORROW YOUR B-DAY – SEEMS YOU SAID BEFORE IT IS 11.6 – SO HAPPY B-DAY MICHAEL & MAY I LOVE YOU AS MY NEIGHBOR ACCORDING TO YOUR BELIEF… ♥ J
Without the parent’s love the child “dies emotionally” and without the parent’s food the child dies physically. YES, IN A PERFECT WORLD BUT I AGREE A CHILD WILL BE DAMAGED EMOTIONALLY BUT NO DIE & WILL SURVIVE WITHOUT A PARENT’S FOOD UNLESS SOMEONE ELSE TAKES OVER & THEY DO & HAVE TOO…
Hi Jan,
Yes it is my birthday today and thank you for remembering 🙂
When I wrote “die” emotionally, I meant damage, but some mental illness is like death.
I agree about the “parent” and meant to clarify my point.
I tend to think of parent as a “role” we play, like “child” or “adult.”
For example, I need to play parent to my dog Max, who needs to sniff things on long walks.
Right now he is demanding more food 🙂
Regarding loving neighbors, mine are lovely, friendly, folks: Indians, Whites, and Filipinos.
But can’t say I love them like Dante loved Beatrice 🙂
One could imagine, however, loving someone in the vicinity who is “prohibited.”
For example, someone at work or some one’s spouse could evoke the feeling of love.
So like your neighbor’s wife they would be taboo, but maybe Jesus wants us to love them anyway.
In any case, one should not have to wear the “scarlet letter” for loving their neighbor 🙂
Michael,
so we are back to the scarlet letter are we… 🙂
One could imagine, however, loving someone in the vicinity who is “prohibited.”
For example, someone at work or some one’s spouse could evoke the feeling of love. EVOKING A FEELING IS NOT THE COVENANT OF LOVE/MARRIAGE – A FEELING CAN BE FLEETING 4 SURE…
So like your neighbor’s wife they would be taboo, but maybe Jesus wants us to love them anyway. WELL, I THINK IT DEPENDS ON WHAT KIND OF LOVE YOU ARE TYPING/SPEAKING OF… ??? AS A SISTER IN THE LORD??? A MAN FRIEND ONCE TOLD ME A WOMAN CAN BE ONLY TWO THINGS TO A MAN – A SISTER IN THE LORD AND/OR HIS WIFE – ONE OR THE OTHER OR BOTH…
In any case, one should not have to wear the “scarlet letter” for loving their neighbor – THIS SCARLET LETTER RUNS DEEP IN YOU – I WOULD THINK THE WOMAN WEARING THE SCARLET LETTER CONSENTED TO IT BUT SHE DIDN’T HAVE TOO – ESPECIALLY IN THIS DAY & TIME LOTS OF WOMEN WOULD BE WEARING THEM & WITH PRIDE – SEEMS TO MAKE NO DIFFERENCE TO MANY…
you are so hard to figure out sometimes & i try to understand what you are trying to convey so please forgive me for asking so many questions & being straightforward – i think being authentic with a person & being transparent & honest is loving someone – i just wish other people felt the same way as i – but i don’t find many that do…
did you have a good B-day today – did you celebrate in any way???
jan
Michael,
JAN: so we are back to the scarlet letter are we…
MIKE: Yes my Hero Hester Prynne 🙂
JAN: EVOKING A FEELING IS NOT THE COVENANT OF LOVE/MARRIAGE – A FEELING CAN BE FLEETING 4 SURE…
MIKE: I agree, but for me love and marriage are “apples and oranges;” of course, I love my wife.
JAN: So like your neighbor’s wife they would be taboo, but maybe Jesus wants us to love them anyway. WELL, I THINK IT DEPENDS ON WHAT KIND OF LOVE YOU ARE TYPING/SPEAKING OF… ???”
MIKE: I tend to believe that there is One love and there are Many laws. I have different feelings of love for different people. For me, sexual desire is not love.
JAN: “AS A SISTER IN THE LORD??? A MAN FRIEND ONCE TOLD ME A WOMAN CAN BE ONLY TWO THINGS TO A MAN – A SISTER IN THE LORD AND/OR HIS WIFE – ONE OR THE OTHER OR BOTH…”
MIKE: Theoretically is not every woman a sister in the Lord?
JAN: “In any case, one should not have to wear the “scarlet letter” for loving their neighbor –
THIS SCARLET LETTER RUNS DEEP IN YOU – I WOULD THINK THE WOMAN WEARING THE SCARLET LETTER CONSENTED TO IT BUT SHE DIDN’T HAVE TOO – ESPECIALLY IN THIS DAY & TIME LOTS OF WOMEN WOULD BE WEARING THEM & WITH PRIDE – SEEMS TO MAKE NO DIFFERENCE TO MANY…”
MIKE: Hester Prynne had an adulterous affair and was punished by her society; my point was I don’t believe she was punished by God for loving the father of her child. Adultery is however a violation of God’s law.
JAN: you are so hard to figure out sometimes & i try to understand what you are trying to convey so please forgive me for asking so many questions & being straightforward – i think being authentic with a person & being transparent & honest is loving someone – i just wish other people felt the same way as i – but i don’t find many that do…
MIKE: No problem, I too believe in open communication and enjoy no other kind 🙂
JAN: did you have a good B-day today – did you celebrate in any way???
MIKE: Yes I did thank you. I spent most of the day with Max, went to work for a while, and my daughter just called to see if I wanted to have dinner with the family.
I’m having a great day 🙂
Michael, i’m sorry i just now found your reply 7 days later – imagine that – i would not have found it but i am looking for another post i posted a while back to add something i found in regard to the post about when Jesus cursed the fig tree & i found this reply you made 11.6.11/YOUR B-DAY – I’M GOING TO COMMENT ON SOME OF YOUR STATEMENTS/TEXT BELOW IN CAPS LIKE THIS [JAN]…
Michael
November 6, 2011 at 9:47 pm
Michael,
JAN: so we are back to the scarlet letter are we…
MIKE: Yes my Hero Hester Prynne
JAN: EVOKING A FEELING IS NOT THE COVENANT OF LOVE/MARRIAGE – A FEELING CAN BE FLEETING 4 SURE…
MIKE: I agree, but for me love and marriage are “apples and oranges;” of course, I love my wife. [JAN] – HERE AGAIN I AM CONFUSED – ARE YOU & YOUR WIFE BACK TOGETHER – YOU PREVIOUSLY STATED/TYPED YOU ARE SEPARATED/DIVORCING??? I GUESS YOU CAN STILL LOVE SOMEONE/SPOUSE & BE SEPARATED OR DIVORCED & STILL CALL THEM YOUR WIFE – SEE HOW CONFUSING YOU CAN BE AT TIMES… 🙁 [JAN] HOW CAN MARRIAGE & LOVE BE APPLES & ORANGES – I WOULD HOPE IN THE WESTERN WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN, THAT LOVE IS HOW MARRIAGES ENDURE OR ARE CONSUMMATED – I KNOW THAT IS NOT TRUE IN ALL COUNTRIES…
JAN: So like your neighbor’s wife they would be taboo, but maybe Jesus wants us to love them anyway. WELL, I THINK IT DEPENDS ON WHAT KIND OF LOVE YOU ARE TYPING/SPEAKING OF… ???”
MIKE: I tend to believe that there is One love and there are Many laws. I have different feelings of love for different people. For me, sexual desire is not love. [JAN] FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF LOVE – THE ONE WE SHOULD PRACTICE IS AGAPE BUT WE DON’T ALL DO THAT NOW DO WE – YOU ARE RIGHT IN SOME CASES THAT SEXUAL DESIRE IS NOT LOVE BUT SEXUAL DESIRE SHOULD SPRING FROM LOVE – IS A BY-PRODUCT OF AGAPE LOVE BUT ALL OTHER SEXUAL DESIRE THAT DOES NOT SPRING FROM AGAPE LOVE I WOULD THINK IS REALLY LUST… ???
JAN: “AS A SISTER IN THE LORD??? A MAN FRIEND ONCE TOLD ME A WOMAN CAN BE ONLY TWO THINGS TO A MAN – A SISTER IN THE LORD AND/OR HIS WIFE – ONE OR THE OTHER OR BOTH…”
MIKE: Theoretically is not every woman a sister in the Lord? [JAN] I WOULD SUPPOSE IF YOU ARE PRACTICING CHRISTIANITY OR FOLLOWING THE WAY OF BEING A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST… THERE IS A FALLEN WORLD OUT THERE THAT WE LIVE IN & SOME ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT – THERE ARE WHEAT & TARES/SHEEP & GOATS – SO IS A TARE/GOAT STILL OUR SISTER/BROTHER IN CHRIST WHEN EVENTUALLY WE WILL BE SEPARATED – WHEN WE ARE NOT OF LIKE MIND & SPIRIT – OUR SPIRITS DO NOT BEAR WITNESS WITH ONE ANOTHER??? THESE ARE NOT & WILL NOT BE OUR BROTHERS/SISTERS IN THE LORD & NEVER WILL BE… ALL ARE NOT/WILL BE SAVED – THAT IS JUST A FACT…
JAN: “In any case, one should not have to wear the “scarlet letter” for loving their neighbor –
THIS SCARLET LETTER RUNS DEEP IN YOU – I WOULD THINK THE WOMAN WEARING THE SCARLET LETTER CONSENTED TO IT BUT SHE DIDN’T HAVE TOO – ESPECIALLY IN THIS DAY & TIME LOTS OF WOMEN WOULD BE WEARING THEM & WITH PRIDE – SEEMS TO MAKE NO DIFFERENCE TO MANY…”
MIKE: Hester Prynne had an adulterous affair and was punished by her society; my point was I don’t believe she was punished by God for loving the father of her child. Adultery is however a violation of God’s law. [JAN] DOES THE STORY/BOOK OF THE SCARLET LETTER SAY GOD IS/WAS PUNISHING HER??? WAS HER LOVE REALLY AGAPE LOVE OR LUST??? I DON’T KNOW BECAUSE I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE BOOK TO HEART LIKE YOU HAVE… OR DO YOU FEEL THAT BECAUSE SHE HAS SINNED/LOVED/LUSTED – HAD A CHILD OUT OF WEDLOCK WHICH WAS NOT IN A COVENANT OF MARRIAGE – SHE WAS OSTRACIZED BY SOCIETY & THAT WAS PUNISHMENT FROM GOD – EITHER WAY SHE BORE THE SCARLET LETTER – WAS SHE WILLING TO WEAR IT & WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO HER IF SHE HAD REFUSED TO WEAR THE SCARLET LETTER – MAYBE SHE WANTED TO WEAR IT TO SHOW HOW MUCH SHE LOVED THE BABIES FATHER – I TRULY DON’T KNOW – READ THE STORY/BOOK SO LONG AGO & IT DIDN’T TOUCH ME LIKE IT HAS TOUCHED YOU – HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED THE STORY/BOOK YOURSELF IN YOUR OWN LIFE??? THAT COULD EXPLAIN YOUR INTENSE ASSOCIATION WITH THE STORY ITSELF… LISTEN TO ME – LIKE YOU ARE ON THE COUCH AT THE COUNSELORS OFFICE… 🙂
JAN: you are so hard to figure out sometimes & i try to understand what you are trying to convey so please forgive me for asking so many questions & being straightforward – i think being authentic with a person & being transparent & honest is loving someone – i just wish other people felt the same way as i – but i don’t find many that do…
MIKE: No problem, I too believe in open communication and enjoy no other kind [JAN] GOOD BUT SOMETIMES I AM NOT VERY GOOD AT READING BETWEEN YOUR LINES… 🙂
JAN: did you have a good B-day today – did you celebrate in any way???
MIKE: Yes I did thank you. I spent most of the day with Max, went to work for a while, and my daughter just called to see if I wanted to have dinner with the family. [JAN] HOPEFULLY YOU WENT & SPENT TIME WITH THE FAMILY WHO LOVE YOU… ♥
I’m having a great day [JAN] GOOD – IN JESUS’ NAME… ♥
[JAN] SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG TO RESPOND BUT I GUESS JESUS MEANT FOR ME TO FIND YOUR REPLY – EVEN IF IT WERE A WEEK LATER… HIS TIMING IS EVERYTHING… ♥
[JAN] – HERE AGAIN I AM CONFUSED – ARE YOU & YOUR WIFE BACK TOGETHER – YOU PREVIOUSLY STATED/TYPED YOU ARE SEPARATED/DIVORCING??? I GUESS YOU CAN STILL LOVE SOMEONE/SPOUSE & BE SEPARATED OR DIVORCED & STILL CALL THEM YOUR WIFE – SEE HOW CONFUSING YOU CAN BE AT TIMES… [JAN] HOW CAN MARRIAGE & LOVE BE APPLES & ORANGES – I WOULD HOPE IN THE WESTERN WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN, THAT LOVE IS HOW MARRIAGES ENDURE OR ARE CONSUMMATED – I KNOW THAT IS NOT TRUE IN ALL COUNTRIES…
Hi Jan,
I can understand your confusion, because we are legally married but we live in two different places
And we live as though we were divorced, so I will, for example, drive our kids to her home later today
My preference is to keep things simple, but our situation is quite complicated with the kids
When I said I love my wife, I could have said the same thing about her sister, or brothers, or mother
They are like family to me
My real brothers are not talking to me for some reason, but I still love them
When I actually went out to dinner with my family on my birthday it seemed so dysfunctional that it made me unhappy
But when I woke up the next day, I realized I had overreacted emotionally
And I felt much better about things
“[JAN] – HERE AGAIN I AM CONFUSED – ARE YOU & YOUR WIFE BACK TOGETHER – YOU PREVIOUSLY STATED/TYPED YOU ARE SEPARATED/DIVORCING???”
Hi Jan,
I can understand your confusion, because we are legally married but we live in two different places
And we live as though we were divorced, so I will, for example, drive our kids to her home later today
My preference is to keep things simple, but our situation is quite complicated with the kids
When I said I love my wife, I could have said the same thing about her sister, or brothers, or mother
They are like family to me
My real brothers are not talking to me for some reason, but I still love them
When I actually went out to dinner with my family on my birthday it seemed so dysfunctional that it made me unhappy
But when I woke up the next day, I realized I had overreacted emotionally
And I felt much better about things
Hi Jan,
I can understand your confusion, because we are legally married but we live in two different places
And we live as though we were divorced, so I will, for example, drive our kids to her home later today
My preference is to keep things simple, but our situation is quite complicated with the kids
When I said I love my wife, I could have said the same thing about her sister, or brothers, or mother
They are like family to me
My real brothers are not talking to me for some reason, but I still love them
When I actually went out to dinner with my family on my birthday it seemed so dysfunctional that it made me unhappy
But when I woke up the next day, I realized I had overreacted emotionally
And I felt much better about things