"Love's Cord"

Gruff and tough- a man’s man,

And even more, a cow hand,

It’s not much nonsense he’ll stand,

     And John his given name.

He listens to the quiet,

That silence stills the riot,

Of this world’s loud, old diet,

     And is its claim to fame.

But this he has no use for,

Knows from God’s Word the real score,

And in his case less is more,

     We need more men like him.

As steady as a rock, he,

Like some old gnarly oak tree,

He goes against the tide, see,

     Not subject to a whim.

But if you mention Carmen,

His senses all will sharpen,

His eyes will tear and darken,

     He loves her heart and soul.

Her perfume on his wild rag,

Wind blows it like some old flag,

And it’s all fact and no brag,

     The two are one made whole.

Loving the Lord together,

The storms of life they weather,

The Spirit is the tether,

     That binds the threefold cord.

And their lives speak what’s needed,

They tend the crop they’ve seeded,

And no doubt they’ve succeeded,

     Brought glory to the Lord.

“…A cord of three strands is not quickly broken…” (Ecclesiastes 4:12, NIV)

When God brings people together the bond is powerful. Whether its brothers who find brothers for support and accountability, or sisters who team up to help each other, or family members who stand together, or husbands and wives who overcome life’s challenges- all are blessed to be a blessing. God is the God of relationships. The vertical and the horizontal are inseparable. Is it any mystery, then, why the enemy’s strategy has always been to divide and destroy people. This poem is dedicated to John and Carmen Babb who have shown so many what marriage ought to be. And I’m so thankful God gave me Stacey.

Lord, bind us together, in Jesus’ name.

Art by JaNeil Anderson, used by permission. Thanks, JaNeil, and God bless you.