How to Love a Woman, Or...

Rocky II (Like You've Never Seen Before)

Posted to Hub Pages in the Religion and Philosophy Section by Jackie Keating on April 8, 2010. Updated October 7, 2020.

Don’t you just love God’s creative ways of talking to us? He talks to me through movies. One that comes to mind is Rocky II. To me, the Rocky movies are a metaphor for character growth and learning the difference between what appears to be important and that which is genuinely important. It’s a beautiful love story between two people who live on the fringe of society, and are labeled by most as “losers.” So, I’m lying in bed one night watching Rocky II and suddenly my mind is flooded with these amazing thoughts. Instantly, I knew it was my Father - but this was much different. There was a clarity and intensity I had never experienced in my other times with Him.

If you have never seen this movie and have access to it, I suggest you watch it before continuing. If not, I believe you will identify with the love and tenderness that comes through these words. They are the words of our precious Jesus wooing you into an intimate and loving relationship, the likes of which you have never experienced.

Rocky has just asked Adrian to marry him, and she accepts. The wedding scene follows. These two are considered castaways of society. This was hardly what most of us would call a wedding. There were no beautiful dresses or tuxedos. There wasn’t a musical note or dance floor to be found. It was two people, a preacher, and a witness out on the street, but the love and tenderness was palpable. They had no car, let alone a limousine, so what did Rocky do? He scoops Adrian up into his strong, muscular arms and carries her all the way home. What’a guy! I think if it were me, and I had a big, fancy limousine, I would have jumped into his arms and totally forgotten the limo!

The next scene was their marriage bed where he kissed her lips so tenderly (men, hang in there to the end; it gets better, I promise)! It was at this point, my Father began to speak to my heart. He asked, “Jackie, what do you see?“ I responded, “Father, I see Rocky treating Adrian like a beautiful, tender flower that he treasures more than life itself. His eyes reveal the special place in his heart where she can be safe & protected from harm. Rocky loves her exactly as she is; she doesn’t have to “perform” to receive his love, he loves her unconditionally, and Adrian knows she is free to express herself just as You made her - for him. She can trust Rocky with every area of her life. I could tell, at that moment, they believed they were the only two people on earth. I also see that under Rocky’s beautiful tenderness is a fierce contender ready to strike out at the slightest threat against her.” Then He said, “Jackie, what does this tell you?’’ I said, “Father, it’s clear that I’m describing our great love affair - You, the Triune God, and me. The remarkable part is that You make me feel like Your one and only, yet I know there are many, many others who have this beautiful relationship with You, too.” He said, “Continue watching, child.” I responded, “Yes, Sir.”

I came to the scene where Rocky and Adrian were having a disagreement. Remember?

Adrian wants Rocky to stop fighting and take advantage of an opportunity to make television commercials. Rocky tells her that he was meant to be a fighter not a television personality doing commercials. But, she objects. I noticed how, even when they disagreed, his tenderness was still front and center. I loved the line, “Adrian, I never asked you to stop being a woman. Please, please, don’t ask me to stop being a man. Please.” I said, “Lord, this reminds me of the gentleness of Your Holy Spirit when He corrects me, and how I still feel loved, even when He points out my mistakes.” He responded, “Exactly.”

Then, I came to the scene where Adrian is in a coma and Rocky is crying over her bed. I heard the Holy Spirit say, “This is how your Father grieves when sin creeps into your life, or you stray away from Him. He’s always there waiting for you to wake up. He’s cheering you on, encouraging you, beaconing you back to His Word, and telling you to keep listening. And, when you finally wake up (realize), the first thing you notice is the joy of the Lord welcoming you back.”

Adrian wakes up, and Rocky tells her that if she wants him to call off the fight with Apollo Creed, he will. Remember what she says? She tells him there’s only one thing she wants him to do - WIN! Unity at last, and Rocky is propelled to a place where he knows his dream will come true. Then I heard my Father say, “Child, see how happy I am when your thoughts become agreeable to My Will, and how I will bless you by causing your plans to be established and succeed - you will win the prize!” (Phil. 3:14; 1 Cor. 9:24; Prov. 16:3) I said, “Yes, I do see, Father. Thank You.”

The fight scenes were next. By now, God had opened my eyes so widely that the fight became a vivid illustration of what I would have faced, both here, and in eternity, had I not received Christ into my heart as Lord and Savior, and, subsequently, fallen in love with Him. Did you catch that word, subsequently? That means I made the commitment first, and then came the love affair. The enemy wants you to believe it must be the other way around. In other words, he wants you to believe that if you don’t feel love for Jesus, then you cannot ask Him into your heart. That’s a lie! Don’t let him fool you. And, finally, the victory - the prize. This tells me how sweet it can be, here, and will be, eternally, in heaven.

Men, I asked you to hang in there till the end. I hope you did. This is a powerful illustration of how to love your wife as Christ loved the church. He is tender, loving, encouraging, and steadfast; He is our Protector, and Provider; He is in us, and we are in Him - we (the church) are one with Him, and we needed performance out of the God-man.* Think about where we would be if all Jesus had was a “fuzzy” feeling for us with no action.* I shutter to think! Your wife needs to see you doing these acts of love. It isn’t just something “nice” to do. To her, it’s as necessary as air to breath, and without it, inside, she withers and dies (it‘s called depression). Let me point out to you, wife, that you have to do your part, too, but we’ll have to save those details for another time. And finally, men, if you have daughters, this is how to love them, too.

I struggled with the title of this article. At first, I wanted to title it, A Peak Into the Secret Place, because that’s exactly what it is - a modified excerpt from my prayer journal and intimate time with my Father. He gives me thoughts in the form of an intimate conversation with Him. That explains the quotation marks throughout. It’s just one of the many blessings He’s given me as I have sought His face through the years.

My final comment is for the men. This illustration is focused on the women, but God is just as capable in meeting the needs of a man. Don’t let the enemy confuse you with his lies. He will try and tell you this is just for women, and you don’t need all that sappy stuff. Listen! You can go to Him with whatever needs and concerns you have, and He will communicate with you -perfectly. He made you! He knows exactly what to say, and how to say it. He knows you better than you know yourself. Trust Him! Chase Him! He wants to be caught! Find your Secret Place, and go there everyday. I promise He will reveal amazing things. You have just had a peak into my Secret Place. I pray you will find yours.

To God be the glory!

*Bill Gillham, Lifetime Guarantee