A Treasury of Treasures

Although I understood that I found my wife and chose her for myself, and that no one forced me into this decision, I still realized that she is a gift from the Lord. And the more I pondered this, the more I saw it and became established in it.

There was no more wonderful occupation for me than to discover something new and beautiful in my beloved. And it turned out to be not difficult at all. I asked GOD to show me another feature of her character, and my eyes and heart, in a single alliance, identified yet another blessing that my wife so clearly possessed. And all that remained for me was to voice this and explain in detail my next discovery.

I never ceased to marvel at how Love can quickly find and reveal remarkable qualities in the human soul, and how that soul is endlessly beautiful and inexhaustible in such discoveries.

The main thing was to begin. I did not have great experience in such relations, although in our friendship I had already begun to practice this. And the family gave me boundless opportunities for such discoveries, and it turned out to be the most interesting occupation at all times.

There were times when the affairs and bustle of this world distracted my mind from my spouse, and I wanted to immerse myself completely in solving the tasks at hand, but the next call or message, or appeal from my wife reminded me of her, and I began to ask for new discoveries in this good person, and the Lord gave them to me.

All these discoveries were not empty words, but, announcing another feature of my wife’s character, I explained to her in detail how this manifests itself in her life and how it opened to me. And my spouse each time found it very interesting to listen to me, and she wondered where I saw and found so much. Sometimes, out of modesty, she declared that this was not about her; but after my explanations she agreed with me and rejoiced over herself.

How wonderful it is to love your wife and constantly think about how to gladden her heart! When you live by this, it seems that everyone around is the same, and that the whole world is filled with such things, for every person is infinitely unique and beautiful, and one only needs to begin to discover him. Thus it becomes clear to us how interesting it will be in Eternity to have friendship with eternal friends whom one will be able to explore forever and to discover forever.

In all my discoveries it was also interesting that I find all the good qualities of my wife’s soul in JESUS when I reflect on the beauty of His character and try to understand how glorious He is in my life. For we were created in the image and likeness of GOD, and now the Lord desires to reveal His image to people and to restore it in us. And this becomes relevant in the lives of those who have believed in JESUS and become part of His Body in this world, having joined His people.

My discoveries happen approximately like this. I reflect on my wife’s behavior and try to understand what special thing she possesses and how it manifests itself. And then I tell her what has been revealed to me in her. There are many visible qualities of her soul that are noticeable to everyone. For example, she is kind, cheerful, positive, and this is manifested in her life in the sight of all. But such features as thrift, love of order, diligence, attentiveness, and other qualities are noticeable only to me and are revealed during various life situations.

And the longer we live together and the more joint matters we have, the more discoveries I can make in her for myself.

Of course, one can refrain from this and simply live quietly, do one’s business, and conscientiously fulfill marital duties; but such discoveries in the character of my beloved bring something romantic into our relationship, and I am so glad that such an amazing person has been given to me by GOD forever, to always gladden my heart with herself and the unique features of her soul.

Sometimes I repeat myself in my revelations in order once again to emphasize what I like very much in my wife; but she does not mind hearing this again and again and marveling at how I noticed it. She cautiously declares that she is not like that, but then nevertheless agrees with me and rejoices that she is as she is—and mine forever.

She also tries to find something similar in me, but I see that her mind is not tuned to such discoveries, and it is very difficult for her to tell something new about me; but this does not embarrass me—I know that ahead of us waits a whole Eternity, during which all our talents and abilities will develop to absolute perfection, and we will endlessly discover one another.

In John 17:3 JESUS said: “And this is Life Eternal, that they might know Thee the only true GOD, and JESUS CHRIST, whom Thou hast sent.” In this definition the Savior gave us to understand that the knowledge of GOD and the revelation of the beauty of His character will never end. In this lies the essence and law of Eternal Life. We understand that we will unceasingly discover something new in the Lord and marvel at these qualities, living by them.

We, though not as perfect as JESUS, nevertheless have His command to be perfect as the Father is perfect. So there is something to strive for and to attain.

Every evening, when I sit down on my couch, and my wife—beside me on the armrest, and she embraces my neck with her beautiful hands, a wonderful atmosphere for discoveries is created, and I begin to tell my spouse what I have seen in this marvelous gift from the Lord. And by the strength of her embrace I understand how much she liked my revelations. Although she tries to assure me that she is not like that, her resistance does not look very convincing against the background of my iron arguments, and she has to agree with me and declare each time where such a good one as I came from. To which I already have a prepared answer—that I am from the Lord, from His hands, given to her forever—with which she immediately agrees, and we become very joyful to be with each other.

One must be very blind not to notice the beauty of the character of the one whom you have chosen for life and love at all times. But blindness is a characteristic sign of modern Laodiceans, from which the Lord desires to heal each one.

And I also noticed an interesting feature in my discoveries. When my wife hears the description of the qualities of her soul, she then very much wants to correspond to these criteria, and with pleasure becomes what she is in my eyes; and this gives me a reason and an idea for new discoveries.

Very often I ask our friends and brethren to tell me what they like in my wife, and I listen very attentively to their answers, noting for myself what I did not notice myself, or becoming established in what had already been revealed to me.

It is difficult to find a more wonderful person in this world than the one whom I have chosen for myself for life. This is some kind of inexhaustible treasury of treasures that constantly enriches you and brings no sorrow with it. And our mutual love helps to recognize all these treasures, to purify them, and carefully to lay them up in our hearts, in order to enrich with them each other and all our neighbors.

1. Please read Prov. 19:14; 31:28–31; Phil. 4:8; Song 1:6–10, 14; 2:2–4, 14; 4:1–7; 6:4–10; 7:7; 8:6–7; John 17:3; Rev. 3:17–18; Prov. 5:18–19; 10:22; 12:25; Eph. 4:29 in light of this lesson.

2. What did you understand from this topic?

3. What other Bible verses came to your memory?

4. Can one do what you read about in this lesson?

5. Do you believe that each of us is an endless treasury of Heavenly treasures?

6. What does a person become in whom the Lord restores His image?

7. Do you know such people who by character resemble JESUS? If yes, how did you determine this?

8. Is it permissible in a family for a husband to praise his wife, searching out new features in her, and to do this constantly?

9. Will the heart of a woman not become proud if her husband constantly loves and praises her?

10. Is it worth studying such lessons if there is none of this in your family and none is foreseen?

11. Will the Lord punish a husband for praising his wife so much and constantly discovering something good in her? Will such an attitude arouse GOD’s jealousy?

12. In this lesson, how does a wife differ from a sister in the faith? May brothers make such discoveries in their sisters?

13. Did this lesson give you a useful idea for changes in your life?

14. What should I do if I consider that my wife is not worthy of praise?

15. Do you believe that the principles of Eternal Life are presented in this lesson? If yes, which ones?