Think about it, there must be a higher love
Down in the heart or hidden in the stars above
Without it, life is wasted time
Look inside your heart, and I’ll look inside mine”—Higher Love
When this song by Steve Winwood came out Gary and I both really liked it but neither of us knew or understood the true Higher Love. Nonetheless, the song resonated with us so much that it became “our song.” We looked forward to dancing to it at our wedding.
The big day finally arrived, it was beautiful May weather in our Pennsylvania hometown. As Gary and I stood in front of family and friends repeatedly trying to light the unity candle I was mentally noting, this is our wedding “glitch.” After much effort, we were able to light our candle, but my internal thoughts were not to prove accurate.
What I didn’t know was that our DJ would not have a copy of Higher Love for our first dance. Thankfully Gary and his Best-Man had a copy to bring as a contingency plan, just in case—unfortunately, this went awry as well. Dancing to our special song was not to be.
Like all marriages, we have walked through storms of varied proportions. Loss of jobs, loss of children, loss of parents, and the hardest storm to weather, loss of love for each other.
We have not walked perfectly, nor have we arrived, but one thing is certain we were tenacious in the battle. While many marriages succumb to divorce ours survived through some very tough storms.
But can I honestly say this was our doing? Maybe in part, but the real honor, the real glory goes to our Higher Love. He walked with us in ways that can only be seen now in hindsight. He stood outside “the ring” fighting for us as we sat huddled and hurting in our individual corners waiting for the bell to ring. He never gave up on us even when we raised our white flag of hopelessness.
Make no mistake, the enemy does not ever stop his assault against our marriages. That is until…
Until we fully understand he has no real power and we wake up!
We wake up, stop fighting each other, and turn our weaponry towards him!
On May 11, 2017, exactly 30 years from our wedding day, Steve Winwood did a concert where we now live, Greenville, South Carolina. Gary and I were there, hand in hand, now able to say with all certainty we know our Higher Love. Only God could orchestrate such perfect timing and bless us with this fun and very significant anniversary celebration. His goodness knows no bounds.
Happy 33rd to my best friend! I love you always!!
Post Note: After this was uploaded and shared with Gary, he told me this, “When I was at the store picking out an anniversary card for you, the song Higher Love came on in the store the moment I stepped into the card aisle.”
We love because He first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates (works against) his [Christian] brother he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should also [unselfishly] love his brother and seek the best for him.”
1 John 4:19-21 AMP
Higher Love Lyrics:Kygo and Whitney Houston
Photo: Gary and I visiting LA
