That's what love is for...

THAT'S WHAT LOVE IS FOR (Amy Grant)

Sometimes, we make it harder than it is
We'll take a perfect night
And fill it up with words we don't mean
Dark sides best unseen
And we wonder why we're feeling this way
Sometimes, I wonder if we really feel the same
Why we can be unkind
Questioning the strongest of hearts
That's when we must start
Believing in the one thing
That has gotten us this far

(Chorus 1:)
That's what love is for
To help us through it
That's what love is for
Nothing else can do it
Melt our defenses
Bring us back to our senses
Give us strength to try once more
Baby, that's what love is for

Sometimes, I see you, and you don't know I am there
And I'm washed away
By emotions I hold deep down inside
Getting stronger with time
It's living through the fire
And holding on we find

(Repeat chorus 1)
Believing in the one thing
That has gotten us this far

(Chorus 2:)
That's what love is for
To help us through it
That's what love is for
Nothing else can do it
Round off the edges
Talk us down from the ledges
Give us strength to try once more
Baby, that's what love is for

That's what love is for
That's what love is for
Melt our defenses
Bring us back to our senses
Give us strength to try once more
Baby, that's what love is for
That's what love is for
(That's what love is for)
That's what love is for
(Ooh, nothing else can do it)
____________________________________________________________________
Today is my 14th Wedding Anniversary. This song by Amy Grant was played at our wedding. Ii was so nervous about getting married that my palms were sweating. Being a product of divorce, I wanted to make sure that our marriage would last. Of course, all of this was before the explosion of the internet and websites about gay or bi issues that opened up a pandora's box.

Fourteen years ago I had every intention of fulfilling my wedding vows. I was in love with a pretty woman, was involved heavily in church, had my daily devotions. The usual makings of a conservative, evangelical Christian husband. But then those "little foxes" started creeping in. You know those foxes....buying porn magazines, watching scrabbled porn late at night. Then over time, frequenting adult bookstores on occasion, browsing the videos and the magazines. Sexual addiction is a reality.

Then those "little foxes" started circling their prey. Actually registering on websites such as gay.com. Getting online to chat with unknown strangers. Which, of course, progressed to the first "hook-up". In the back of your mind, you know what you are doing is morally wrong though. Being faithful versus committing adultery. The flesh versus the spirit. Questions abound: Am I straight, bi or gay? I must be insane---I am married. I need to ensure that I play safe. I don't want to bring any STD critters home to give to my beloved. How would I explain that?

"Melt our defenses, bring us back to our senses, give us strength to try once more".

Fourteen years is a long time. My wife and I watched the series finalle of "Everwood" last night. The character Dr Andy Brown made this statement: "It doesn't matter who is in the picture that you are standing next to, the key point is are you smiling?" My marriage might not be the loving picture that it once was. I love thinking about the good times when my kids are smiling and they know that mom and dad love them. I don't like to think of the alternative. Divorce, betrayal, bitterness, single-parent, stigma of divorce.

"That's what love is for...."

Your comments are welcomed.