That's the Power of Love

I’m in therapy. And you know the old saying that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?” Well, it’s not true; it just takes a looooooong time to do it.

As I was driving home from my counseling session this week, I began wondering how long it takes for people to get locked into their unhealthy and dysfunctional behavior. Does it begin in preschool or elementary or young adult? I suppose it’s different for everybody. I just wish I could pinpoint my beginning. Go back there and block it. Because some stuff is so embedded in me and has become so much of who I am that it’s unbelievably difficult to break the patterns. And, what makes matters worse, since starting counseling for one thing a few months back, it has now opened my own Pandora’s box.

I have a mezuzah by my door; it’s been there and moved with me for years. It’s a small decorative case attached to the right side of my door frame. If you’ve seen movies or shows with religious Jews, you know they tap their lips with their fingers and then touch their mezuzah, both going out and coming in. Inside there’s a small scroll with the words from Deuteronomy 6:4-9.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God

with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These

commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress

them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you

walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as

symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.

Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.

I have loved having those verses at my door, reminding me of who God is and to look for moments to acknowledge him. Both in my going out and my coming in.

But, this week I have added new verses to my mezuzah. Verses that God gave me, to help me. Verses that were so clearly given that I wouldn’t be surprised if I had actually heard the voice of God, himself. Verses that came at a time when I was dealing with such discouragement and on the brink of depression. The things that I thought I had dealt with years ago have come back like a tsunami. But in the midst of this storm, God was there. And gave me tangible help. Help in the form of his life giving words. I Corinthians 13:4-7.

Love is patient and kind.

Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.

It does not demand its own way.

It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.

It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful,

and endures through every circumstance.

Such familiar verses. I memorized them in church camp and have heard them read aloud at just about every wedding. And yet, this past week I feel as though they are brand new. Because, possibly for the first time, I’m trying to live them. Not just give them voice.

When I start to roll my eyes, love is not rude.

When I start to judge, love does not demand its own way.

When I cower in the face of great strength, love is kind and hopeful.

When I start to review hurts, love keeps no record of being wronged.

When discouragement raises its head, love never gives up, never loses faith.

And on it goes.

It’s been an exhausting week as I have taken these words off the page and have done my best to incorporate them into my life. Because not only are these verses now in my mezuzah, they are also printed on a canvas by my door. And readily available on my phone. They’re becoming like the verses in Deuteronomy. I’m impressing them upon my heart when I’m sitting at home or walking along the paths of my life. They are becoming my lifeline to healing and health.

Hewy Lewis and the News said it best when they sang, “It just might save your life. That’s the Power of Love.” With the work that’s still ahead of me, boy, this dog is counting on it.