Elizabeth Barrett Browning 1806-1861
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 every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
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.
I suppose every word could fit with God,
even the part of loving Him more after death.
I have heard some say that some of the Church songs sound romantic.
Putting Jesus above all with pure love and adoration seems fitting.
As long as the words are from a holy love to Him,…we are His bride.
This is a great mystery:
but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:32
It is not sensual or sexual love.
Our love for God is pure and righteous and Holy.
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee,
because thou hast left thy first love.
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent,
and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly,
and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Revelation 2:4-5
That pure love, by putting Christ first, we acknowledge He is above all,
and deserves the most prominent position in every area of our lives.
For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
Deuteronomy 4:24
How do we live Jesus? Let us count the ways.