“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
I’ve been thinking on this passage a lot lately. Looking to translate it from head to heart to hands and feet. One thing is sure, I cannot, will not do it if left to my own devices. Praise God we are not. And so we press on…
Love
Love makes its peace with waiting, though it be a struggle.
Love speaks and acts blessing.
Love doesn’t set its heart on having what it hasn’t been given.
Love does not require the limelight to be at its best.
Love understands the need for mercy, all round.
Love repeatedly recognizes and relinquishes self-interest,
Love can let a lot go.
Love does not resort to rudeness in the face of the irritating and the irritable.
Love doesn’t celebrate that which degrades or destroys,
But, oh how it welcomes truth and fully enjoys the freedom it brings.
Love can’t just talk about justice and mercy, it must do what it can to ease the suffering of the oppressed, the neglected, and the hungry.
Love leans hard on the Lord’s declaration of faithfulness and takes Him entirely at his word, “Even though He slay me.” *
Many good things will come and go,
Many hard things must be endured,
Much remains a mystery.
But love will go the entire distance,
Love will not quit.
*Job 13:15
Fish and a Biscuit 
Kerry, Thank you for once again putting into such beautiful words the hard truth. Love isn’t a word. It is action. It is steadfastness. It is the one thing that carries people through the darkest days of their lives, when they do not have the strength to stand because they are certain their knees will buckle with the enormity of the weight they must bear. We westerners throw the word around with such flippancy. Thank you for the reminder that love means so much more than we think it does–it demands more, but gives so much more.
Traceybee, I love when you comment because I am always blessed by your hard earned wisdom. Thank you for being gracious and real. Blessings on you and yours.
Thanks, Kerry. Wonderful explanation of love.
His love is staggering, isn’t it? For me it’s such a fight some days. For Him, it is simply being. It is WHO he is.
It does indeed go the distance. Great post, xoxo
Hugs back at ya!