How do I love thee? If you don't think it matters...

And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. (Exodus 25:18-20)

That's how God said he wanted to top the Ark of the Covenant.  Imagine for a moment if Moses brought this specification to Israel and went to the guy who specialized in the tops to Arks of the Covenant, and the guy retorts, "Well, that's just stupid! I can make one cherub for less than half the cost and if I keep the wings close to the body, it'll be a far cry easier to craft."

A bit later we find this tidbit.

And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. (Exodus 26:31)

This time Moses approaches the veil-making section of the Tabernacle artisan's shop. Same response. "What's with the cherubim! We've got some leftover goatskins in the backroom from the Tabernacle's outer curtains (26:7), and not one cherubim would have to be woven.  Do you have any idea how difficult it is to weave a single pudgy angel into the cloth?"

No, I don't think Moses received that response. Imagine the honor it would be to ply your craft at God's request. You'd be throwing in extra cherubim. And how about a few pomegranates? What an honor!

Think about it. You may have no idea why God wants a veil of blue and purple yarn instead of the usual red or green or why he wants angelic hosts replicated therein, but it doesn't matter. You do it because you know it pleases him. When you love someone, you are delighted to serve them even when you don't understand why a particular thing makes them so giddy.

Why do we have such a hard time applying that to marriage?

Lorraine likes to have her hands rubbed.  Leroy has nothing for it. He can't fathom what she sees in a handrub so he doesn't rub Lorraine's hands. Do you know what it would mean to Lorraine to have her hands rubbed?

Bob loves broccoli. Barb hates it. Nothing more loathesome in the world to her. As such they never have broccoli for dinner. Barb won't make it. Do you know how much it would bless Bob if Barb would learn to cook broccoli how Bob likes it?

If I truly love my wife, I will want to scratch her itch the way she wants it scratched. Applying my itch to my wife and trying to scratch the itch she doesn't even have is stupid!

Valentine's Day is approaching with the speed of a muzzle-velocity .45-caliber bullet. What do I do? If my wife likes flowers, I get her flowers. If she likes daisies but detests daffodils, I don't buy her daffodils. If she likes chocolate, I buy her chocolate. If she likes Hershey Kisses but doesn't dig Ghirardelli, what do I do? Sweat. Anxiety. Is it really that hard? No. I buy her Kisses. By the wheelbarrow.

God crafted you specially to be an artisan. The fancy he wants you to tickle belongs to your spouse. Figure it out. Your spouse has a deep desire. Find it. I don't care how silly you think it is, love her by finding out what that desire is and fulfill it with lavish, slobbering, over-the-top love, all because you really want to even though you don't get it.

And then throw in a few pomegranates.