My girlfriend laughed when I proposed to her

October 21, 2016 Bryant Rodriguez

Yaniz had finally gotten dressed up. She was beside me in the vehicle, and I could tell she was frustrated but there was nothing to be done about it now. When she had come out of her room in her mismatched outfit and lazy afternoon hair, I thought I would have to break the surprise to get her changed. I knew she would be mad if I had paid a photographer and she didn’t look her best. I had been conflicted, but I had kept my cool, and when her best friend Raquel came by, she convinced her to change.

Perfect.

Now we were on our way downtown in Raquel and Lucas’ Prius

The Romance of Christ

February 14, 2016 usethegrace

Jesus loved a woman. Jesus purposed in His heart that He would marry this woman He desired. He spoke to the Father, got things arranged, and left home to meet the woman He loved where she lived.

“But when the fullness of time had come” Gal. 4:4

Before He could drop the question, though, He needed to negotiate the mohar, the price, He would need to pay for His wife. The price was steep, but He loved her so much that He was willing to go forward with it. Like Jacob laboring 14 years for the woman he wanted so much, counting it as nothing, Jesus would count as nothing the price He’d pay. Already, in His heart He despised the shame, agreed to the terms, and moved toward that young woman, beautiful like a costly pearl.

Lessons From a Broken Semester - I Can Choose To Love Today

January 2, 2015 usethegrace

This week, I have chronicled five lessons that I gathered from this past semester of college. For the last one, I reflect on the importance os saving friendships today, not tomorrow.

Love's disappointment

February 24, 2013 usethegrace

Think of the wife at home. Making the place habitable and taking care of the household details while the husband is away. Think of the way she might delight in taking over these monotonous chores so her husband might be pleased by an ordered home. Perhaps she does this for five days straight. Setting meals and making conversation. Not minding his energies are a bit drained from his work. She seeks to stay involved in his life by inquiring about his work and listening attentively. She does this delighted as she plays the role of suitable helpmate. And now think of what would happen if after the the five days the husband's day off came, and the wife couldn't help but get her hopes up. And what if the day came and went and nothing special happened? Would she not feel let down? He didn't even join in on the household duties.

Think of the father with the son. Think of the labor he takes on for the son who will never know the half of it. Providing a home and being the minuteman father the son needs. Watching the way he's developing, foreseeing what might be needed soon, trying to educate the child while giving him space to develop. Perhaps no one can quite put into words the constant taxation which comes when trying to be a parent. Yet he takes on the burden with joy for the sake of his son's eternal well-being.

And now think what would happen if after years of toil, the son turned his back on his father. Perhaps because of a petty complaint or a disagreement ending in dispute. As his son came of age the father got his hopes up. Would he not feel let down? Would there not be some inexplicable grief in the father? The son didn't even think of how indebted he was to his dad.

Think of the God holding the wheeling spheres, holding the cosmos and providing life to the worlds. How at the cross, He provided time and opportunity for salvation. By the blood from His brow, He began a new creation through resurrection. He never sleeps and His eye is ever on the earth trying to providentially guide, protect, teach, and save. Think of all the Great Controversy brings to His plate. Perhaps He does this for thousands of years as the Conflict continues.

And now think of wheat would happen if His children cast aside the time to worship Him. Or the pain and grief the missing faces will cause in the age to come. Would He not feel let down?

A celebration, why not?

February 14, 2013 usethegrace

On this Valentine’s day, a common time yet an uncommon emphasis.

We need more romance songs not ending in a scene of fornication.

I only wish I could help ghostwrite some.

Sadly, my music gene decided to never express itself.

Never, in the Hebrew sense, for I trust in the age to come, voices will ring and mine will be among them.

And on that day, perhaps my celebration of love will be fuller, not just limited to words.

You know, traveling with two married couples as part of Songs of Ascent, I thought I would be uncomfortable or awkward being the fifth wheel. However, this has not been the case. I watch cute idiosyncrasies of their romantic story, I watch the way they smile in pride, I watch the familiarity and peace, I watch and I rejoice. My heart is made glad, I am overwhelmed with excitement to see true love, the kind Corinthians 13 describes, in action. And yes, perhaps it is unfortunate to have no one to share a meal with when we hit up a restaurant, but oh how fortunate it is to dwell in the sacredness of matrimony.

So many people rag on Valentine’s day. I see no honor in that.

It is an easy target, a large center with a soft underbelly.

May be we should seek to rejoice and celebrate love, to hold it up in awe and reverence.

Solomon wrote a song about it and God liked it enough to canonize it. Let us celebrate those who have done it right, those who are seeking to do it right, those whose marriages and romantic stories reflect the Bride and the oh-so-dashing Groom.

In a world full of affairs, adultery, incest, pedophilia, rape, and fornication, we need more celebration of other-centered love.

Yes, it is just another common day, but why not seize it for an uncommon emphasis?