Life in God’s Garden: Part 5

“When a man loves a woman,
he’ll give up all his comforts,

and sleep out in the rain if she said that’s the way it ought to be.”   

These lyrics have been sung by a dozen recording artists, but I doubt Percy Sledge originally sang about the relationship of Adam and Eve when he penned those words do you?  Yet, it can be argued that a man will do anything and is practically blinded to the ways of a woman when it comes to true love.  Are you among those “believer’s”? 

For a brief moment let’s step back in time to the beginning where the first romance was formed between a man and a woman.  Just what was it about this new being Adam called “woman” that changed the entirety of what the world would come to know as “head over heels in love?” 

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I am so thankful for your visit and hope that you come back each week to participate in the weekly challenges.  Join us in our new series as we spend time in the study of Daily Favor Relationships. 

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In the Beginning 

The beginning of my own romance didn’t start in a garden, but it did have a sweet aroma so to speak .. that is, it was innocent, flowers were involved, however it was anything but love. 

Well, that is on my part.  Hubby’s version of what actually took place at the start of our relationship tells a different story. 

 

When Boy Meets Girl      

It was around May of our 9^th grade school year and it took all the staff could do to reign in these radicals from surrounding districts.  Before our class came along the 9^th – 12^th graders were in the same school, but that changed when it came to the over one thousand “free spirited” freshmen who would roam the halls.   

Our class was so large that we had to be housed in one place all by ourselves!  On behalf of the teacher, I can attest that they had their work cut out for them with us. 

The last period of the day was homeroom where students were assigned to rooms according to their last names alphabetically.  During that time I asked the teacher if I could go to my locker which was located just outside the classroom. 

Gathering my books and who knows what else from that cramped locker, I heard a door open from the classroom across the hallway from mine.  Without thinking much of it I glanced back to see who it was, when out walked the most gorgeous vision in human form that I have ever seen! 

Her long flowing hair moved side to side as she walked, and her petite build was eye catching to say the least.  I didn’t even notice what she was wearing that day because my mind screamed out, “What a head” … her wonderful features were positioned exquisitely on a perfectly shaped head and she was coming closer and closer to me! 

Kind of weird, huh … I know, but true.  Her face … what a face!  Did I tell her?  Absolutely not. That would be strange!

She seemed focused and intentional in what she was doing, really outgoing and friendly without overdoing it.  Walking up to my locker she started a conversation.  From that point on I totally forgot why I went to my locker in the first place, and had absolutely no idea why she was out of her homeroom anyway. 

“Hi, my name is Fay.  I recognize you from church.  You come with the Hooper family sometimes, don’t you?  Is Davis your cousin?  What is your name?”   

It was Fay who did all the talking, but I was the one out of breath!  Practically swallowing my tongue I could barely open my mouth to speak.  Timidly I finally managed to blurt out my name and explained the relationship between the Hooper’s and my family.  

 

“You should come to church more often; we have a great youth group.”  

That was it … she smiled, turned around and disappeared out of sight only to leave my heart melting in my shoes.  Little did she know from that moment on I planned on being at that church every time the doors were open for anything!  Right then I knew this was the girl I wanted to marry. The problem was convincing her!

Capturing a Social Butterfly

I learned more and more about Fay, the beautiful social butterfly who made tons of friends from traveling with her singing family.  Just like her mother, she could talk to anyone and made them feel comfortable in the conversation. 

After that initial hallway meeting we saw each other in church more than at school, and as we moved on throughout high school our friendship grew to the point of us becoming best friends.  I was able to overcome my shyness with her, but it would take a long time to make a move forward in the relationship I desired to have with Fay.   

Capturing this delicate butterfly wouldn’t be easy.  Competition was something I hadn’t added into the equation, but realized if I didn’t say anything she’d be listening to someone else who could fill her lovely head with lies. 

In December of our sophomore year the church youth group was planning a semi-formal banquet for the week between Christmas and the New Year.  It was at a Sunday night hymn sing that Davis asked me,  

“Who are you going to ask to the banquet?” 

I told him that I would like to ask Fay but was still kind of shy about the whole thing.

 

“I’ll ask her for you”, he said and before I could stop him he jumped up and was over talking to her.  

 

I was a nervous mess waiting for my friend to come back, but didn’t expect Fay to be with him.  Without hesitation she happily gave me my answer. 

“I’ll go with you as long as Robbie (her boyfriend at the time) doesn’t want to go.”  

Nothing like a definite “maybe” to be a real confidence builder for a young man’s ego!  For the next year and a half I was the greatest beggar at the Throne, praying she’d dump every guy that asked her out or had anything to do with her. 

Back then I didn’t understand the favor of God, but gradually my little butterfly started fluttering her way toward the garden  of roses I began sending her.  God heard this teen’s prayers and Fay did wind up going with me to the “social” that Christmas. 

Loving Anyway 

As the next few years unfolded, our friendship turned into dating, followed with the romance of going steady (exclusive).  I fell in love with Fay from the first time we actually met in the hallway at school.  For her … not so much, but she got there, eventually – February 14^th of our senior year to be exact when we had our first kiss.   

Through a lot of prayer, patience and listening to my friend (Fay) when she needed a shoulder, I learned to walk in love as Christ tells us before she gave me a second look.

 

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." (Ephesians 5:1-2 NKJV) 

Our relationship developed not because of who I was, but out of who I needed to be for Fay.  It may have been purely selfish on my part at that time, but God was there from the beginning giving me hope when things didn’t look promising.   

Just like Adam, God put Fay before my eyes.  Thankfully there was no surgery involved and I got to keep all my ribs. It’s kind of funny that she’s never eaten a rib in her life! 

He showed me how to let the butterfly spirit in her fly free and be what He created her to be for Him.  I love the Lord and practically everyone knows my love for animals, but Fay is truly the companion and helper God created her to be in establishing a daily favored relationship.

Life in God’s Garden still goes on for those who seek the Lord and want to grow in relationship with Him.  He will lead you to the person, place or thing that brings Him glory and draws others to Jesus. 

The Blessings of Relationship Continues 

Last week I (Fay) began to talk about the blessing concerning relationships.  Let’s briefly review the first part of blessing nine of Life in God’s Garden and continue on from there. 

Ninth Blessing – God blessed mankind with relationships, with Himself, animals and one another.  No matter how you look at it, we were not supposed to be without companionships throughout our entire life. 

We broke it down into these three sections. 

First God created the relationships He wanted. 

“For by Him (GOD) all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16 ESV) 

The Creator of all things wanted relationships in which He could enjoy. It has always been His plan to give Daily Favor to His creation whether it is a human or animal.  

Second God created animals for mankind. 

“And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.’  Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air…” Genesis 2:18-19 NKJV) 

The relationship of animals with mankind wasn’t the same as it is now (after the fall of man because of sin).  Life in God’s garden had different responsibilities than what we deal with in this age.

Jehovah wanted this relationship to be so great that He favored man entrusting him with the privilege of knowing and naming the animals.  God brought and presented them as individual creations.  

“… and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature that was its name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.” (Genesis 2:19b – 20 NKJV) 

Adam would recognize they were not like him, but had the ability to love and be loyal. 

This is where we pick up … 

We notice that everything God made was good, but all of a sudden something isn’t good … something isn’t quite right. 

“… and the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” (Genesis 2:18 NKJV)  

What we learn is that there was a need for a companion that would be suitable for man.  The next thing Jehovah does is rather interesting. 

Instead of God creating another human He brings the animals to Adam to be named (verses 19-20).  This shows that the inadequacy of animals to form the type of relationship man would need for fulfillment and completion. 

Finally God does something wonderful for man that would be beyond what he could ask or think. He would provide a true fit, equal and companion for man. That takes us to the last part of the relational needs for humans. 

Third He created the female Adam – man. 

On the very day man was created God demonstrated that He favored the relationship of a male and female by joining them together.  Contrary to the lyricist I mentioned in the beginning of this post, God didn’t plan for man to give up all the comforts of a loving home, nor did He have to fend off the rain to please a woman … not while living in His Garden that is. 

“And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.  Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman…” (Genesis 2:21-22a NKJV) 

Are you starting to think more and ask questions that never popped into your mind before this series?  I hope so. 

Adam was barely alive before he had to undergo surgery!  How much time did Adam have before there was his companion and helper Eve?  We know he spent a good part of the day alone with God, so was she made in the “eve” – ning?  After all, God is the one who identified mankind as Adam (man) and Eve.

“Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.  And Adam said: This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” (Genesis 2: 22b-23 NKJV) 

When Adam woke from his deep sleep we know what he said, but what exactly was he thinking when his eyes first saw Eve’s “head” … (I couldn’t resist) okay … her face?  Was it love at first sight?  

Was this floating around in his head?

“I wonder what God was thinking when He created you?

When God made you He must have been thinking about me. 

He made the sun; He made the moon to harmonize in perfect tune.

One can’t do without the other; they just have to be together. 

And that is why I know it’s true, you’re for me and I’m for you.

‘Cuz my world just can’t be right without you in my life.”

 

Think on This Challenge:

Head or Heart Relationship 

When it comes to my husband, I tend not to agree that he was blinded to the ways of a woman when it came to love. However, his method of finding “true love” isn’t exactly what I’d call typical either in building a relationship, but it was a godly one that worked. 

In the beginning what hubby felt in his heart concerning love was only friendship in my head.  Time, patience and effort built the relationship into something deeper.  This week’s think on this challenge had me wondering if it was the same for Eve when it came to Life in God’s Garden.

Did the Eden couple fall head over heels in love with one another when their eyes first met?  What if it took Adam three years before he had the nerve to ask Eve out on a date like hubby did with me?  He had a good start to winning her heart with all the flowers at his disposal, and they didn’t cost him a week’s wages either. 

With my husband I didn’t have a clue about his feelings and thought we were just good friends.  The dating thing came as a complete surprise. 

What do you suppose happened when Adam first met Eve?  Was it love at first sight or did the relationship have to grow in favor?

 

How long did it take for Adam and Eve to fall in love … or did they?  Was it a head or a heart relationship?  After all, it was an arranged marriage. 

Wow, now that will keep you thinking!  Go ahead and talk that one over with your loved one! 

Just for the record:

Although I have come to favor my husband’s humorous side, I haven’t gotten past the “head” thing and even to this day he will put his hands on me proclaiming, “I love this head, because you came with it.” Strange! 

 

When God Made You by Newsong

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Until next time, wake up to favor! 

“Trust Me; I’ll put favor before your eyes.”

Jesus Christ

 

*Unless noted, the names in articles are changed to protect the individual(s) privacy. 

Note: Emphasis is given in some scriptures to show clarity or understanding and is not to take away from the inspirited Word of God. 

Disclaimer: Article information is not meant to be used as treatment for mental or physical issues, but geared toward spiritual awareness. 

What’s New This Week: Click on the links. We have two selections.

 

When a Man Loves a Woman: Pursuing Her Heart by Pastor James Ford, Jr. 

 

Dude's Guide to Marriage:

Ten Skills Every Husband Must Develop to Love His Wife Well

By Darrin and Amie Patrick

 

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When a Man Loves a Woman by Percy Sledge Wikipedia

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