1 Corinthians 13:4-7  (NIV) “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

At age 21, I made a promise to love and honor the young man whom I believed would be my husband for the remainder of my life. I believed the love found in I Cor. 13 is the kind of love which would enable our marriage to endure the trials of life.  However, many of our family holidays and celebrations have an “empty chair” which was once filled with the husband and father of our home.

After decades of marriage, I learned my ex-husband didn’t possess such love and chose to abandon the family God had bestowed upon him for the passion of a mistress. Today would have been our 50^th wedding anniversary. Even though some we love may abandon us, what an exultation to have the assurance in Deuteronomy 31:8 (NKJV) ^“…He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”