He Knew, But Did Not Do

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I want to share a parable about the perils of neglecting in love. Several years ago, I heard Chuck Swindoll tell a story on the radio about the great writer, Thomas Carlyle.

Carlyle had married his secretary and, unfortunately, treated her like an employee. She became ill with cancer and died shortly thereafter.

After her death, Carlyle came upon his wife’s diary. He began to read it. In one entry she had written, "Today he spent an hour with me." In another she wrote, "I heard his steps and thought he would come in. He did not."

This was more than Carlyle could bear. He fled to the cemetery and, in the rain and mud, he wept over grave and uttered over and over again these words, "If only I knew. If only I knew."

At this point in the story, Charles Swindoll said, "No Carlyle, you knew. You simply did not do."

Typically in love, we have all the information we need. It is just a matter of doing. I think this is one of the things Paul had in mind when he wrote of the servant heart that comes with the love known as agape, “Husbands, love your wives…”