#afflict

(...)"He said we all have this different idea of what love is and that's what makes our circle. The more ideas and misconceptions you throw in, the larger the diameter and the harder it is to connect with someone. We," he said, squeezing Hunter's hand and signaling Margie and everyone around them, "all sit around the edge looking at everyone else around the circle. Sometimes we just settle for the person next to us because it's easy or convenient and we skip our way around its circumference, never really knowing what love is all about." He took a sip of his Coke and kept his eyes on Margie. "But other times, you see that person across from you, staring back at you, and you fight like hell trying to get across while he does the same. If you're lucky, there's a rope you can toss over and help draw each other in, never looking away, never worrying about those still on the circumference; just you and him, pulling each other in, deeper and deeper." ↗

— Brandon Shire

#dillon #hunter #margie #love

having the people you love tell you they love you and mean it . . . it never goes out of style. Since we're made in God's image, this must be from Him, so even God must need an 'atta boy,' an out-loud, in-your-head 'Thank you, great job on that sunset, and the platypus was a birlliant fun idea.' Maybe that's why we're supposed to pray the way we do, because without it God would be lonely ↗

— Laurell K. Hamilton

#love

From the beginning of our history the country has been afflicted with compromise. It is by compromise that human rights have been abandoned. ↗

— Charles Sumner

#afflicted #been #beginning #compromise #country

God's way of answering the Christian's prayer for more patience, experience, hope and love often is to put him into the furnace of affliction. ↗

— Richard Cecil

#answering #christian #experience #furnace #god

Hunter turned and kissed Dillon deeply before he rinsed off. He had never wished for his sight before, but he would have given anything at that moment to be able to turn and witness the beauty of the man that had just made love to him. He'd literally felt the change in Dillon's grip as he made love. The very first time they were together, Dillon's hold was uncertain, a tentative embrace that held no absolutes, no dreams, but just now it was different; it was a grip that sat right on the edge of possession, a possession Hunter would willingly give, if asked. But would Dillon ask, and would he be able to accept? ↗

— Brandon Shire

#dillon #hunter #beauty

When I am in the cellar of affliction, I look for the Lord's choicest wines. ↗

— Samuel Rutherford

#am #cellar #choicest #i #i am

These words [of Romans 12:1-2] are overflowingly rich in consolation; for just then when afflictions come over us, we should be of good courage, because that is the good will of God. Therefore we should be greatly pleased when things happen to us which displease us. The "good" will of God creates good out of evil. The "acceptable" will of God moves us cheerfully to love such good. It makes this good acceptable to us, and causes us to agree with it, even if it is evil. The "perfect" will of God will eternally perfect and bring to a[n] end all who are glad. ↗

— Martin Luther

#luther #trials #courage

Listen to the breath of the rain." They were silent for a minute. Dillon closed his eyes and tried to grasp at what Hunter experienced. Hunter moved closer and put the heat of his breath in Dillon's ear. "I want you to make love to me by the rhythm of the rain," he whispered. ↗

— Brandon Shire

#love

The true believer is rewarded in every thing, even in affliction. ↗

— Abu Bakr

#believer #even #every #rewarded #thing

Affliction is a school of virtue; it corrects levity, and interrupts the confidence of sinning. ↗

— Francis Atterbury

#confidence #corrects #levity #school #sinning