Free Love

C.S. Lewis, in his Screwtape letters, talks about "Free Love"

Free love is when we give to someone else, out of pure love,

not in an attempt to get something back,

nor thinking of what we will get out of the transaction.

Free Love is not usual.

Free love is not something we do on accident.

No, we are manipulators.

If we are honest with ourselves, we will see ourselves always thinking of the end goal.

People will think I'm a good Christian.

Others will notice how much I give.

They will call me successful.

She will love me back.

He will accept me.

Free love is when I love Christopher when he does not deserve it.

When I love him when he is tired, worn, smelly, and without energy to love back.

It's so easy to love him when I come home to candles and a cooked meal.

It's so easy to love him when he makes a funny joke, and has a half smile.

It's so easy to love him when I have nothing else on my plate, stress-free.

It is when he is bogged down with bills, plans, and focused else-where...

I suddenly don't want to give love.

I don't want to slow down to ask what is worrying him.

I don't want to have a soft tone, touch his shoulder, and tell him it will be okay.

Instead, I am really, embarrassingly selfish.

What about my worries? 

What about my hard day at work?

What about my big decisions?

Free love is something only God demonstrates perfectly.
God, who adopted us as His own when we were still sinners.

Free love is loving God when we are going through trials.

Free love is loving God when things are hard,

the desert is dry,

and we are uncomfortable.

Free love is what leads to Obedience,
and obedience leads us to Joy.

“Do not be deceived, Wormwood. Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do our Enemy's will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.” 
C.S. Lewis -The Screwtape Letters