How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints―I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!―and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
Many are familiar with the first lines of this famous love poem penned by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. What is less familiar is the background to this poem. Elizabeth Browning was writing to the man who later became her husband, Robert Browning. She confessed her undying love to him and even beseeched God to grant her the ability to love him even after death. If love can continue beyond death, this would be the ultimate affirmation that love is eternal. Evangelist Ravi Zacharias eloquently summarized this longing. “If relationships bring meaning to life, then the ultimate mockery of life is the reality that all relationships are either ruptured by sin or severed by death. Each of us longs for a relationship that cannot be victimized by sin or destroyed by death. That relationship can only be found with God.”
Who can list the glorious miracles of the LORD? Who can ever praise him enough?
Psalms 106:2 (NLT)
The Psalmist who penned these words was in love as well, with His Creator. Yet, the Psalmist did not lament that his love would end with this life. He was confident that he would see His Lord even after he died. His words looked ahead to the Savior that God promised He would send to redeem His people. Thousands of years later, God sealed this promise through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the most glorious miracle and act of love that God has bestowed upon His creation.
How do I love thee?
We can never praise Him enough!
Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.
The Bereans Blog 