Huddled together on our couch, we have been digesting with our children the relevant truths of this important passage of scripture every night. Taking it apart. Trying to live it. As we listen to these commands individually, each night we have walked away from the mirror of God's word humbled by our actions and repentive in our spirit. I am wrecked by the great love I have for myself and the play I find myself the lead in. To the Lord's ears I sound muffled. Annoying. Loud. I can have the greatest of wisdom, but without love I am nothing. It is not an emotion. Not a good intention...
"Love is a verb."-dc talk
I Corinthians 13
"Love is patient."
Patient. When I have expectations. Needs. Desires. Feelings. Plans. Deadlines. Opinions.
"Love is kind."
Kind. When you hurt me. When you disappoint me. When you talk too much. When you leave your wet laundry in a pile on the carpeted floor. When you expect too much. When you aren't there. When you need me.
"Love does not envy."
Envy. When you have something that I want. When you get that which I feel I deserve. When you are promoted, praised,congratulated, blessed, pretty, pregnant, married, wealthy, happy.
"It does not boast."
Boast. When I just want you to know who I am. What I've done. What I've seen. What accomplishments I have. What books I am reading. How God has used me. What I've learned. Who I know. How much I have aquired.
"It is not arrogant."
Arrogant. When I want you to see who I am. How talented. How wise. How cool. How relevant. When I think I am better than you.
"Or rude."
Rude. When you get in my way. When you hurt my feelings. When you don't listen. When you reject me. When you cut me off. When you deserve it.
"It does not insist on its own way."
My way. When you just won't listen. When I know better. When you reject my advice. When you walk away from Truth.
"It is not irritable"
Irritable. When I just need five minutes. When you talk about yourself.
"Or resentful"
Resentful. When you recieved that one thing that I have desired more than anything. When I am without and you are with. When you talked about me. When I know you hate me.
"It does not rejoice at wrong doing, but rejoices with the truth."
Rejoices. Wanting your best even if you desire my worst.
"Love BEARS all things. BELIEVES all things. HOPES all things."
Without judgment. Without recourse. Genuine desire for your best. Even when you hurt me, reject me, belittle me, look better than me, take advantage of me, lie to me, turn on me.
"Love never ends."
"If I speak in the tounges of men and of angels and have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal."
Anners,
ReplyDeleteDid you come up with this yourselves????? I LOVED IT!!!!
And let me tell you, the sections "Love does not boast" and "Love is not arrogant" REALLY, REALLY clicked with me. It made sense of the reason I left Facebook. I know that may sound weird, but it did. Thank you, my dearest friend. (I am still trying to tie up childcare for the 20th.) I love you so much!
J.
PS. I like the new 'shabby chic' look of your blog. It is so you. It also goes quite charmingly with that great picture of you and your hunka hunka burnin' love.
ReplyDeletehowever: i think the picture should have been taken in the back seat. ;)
Jeane...
ReplyDeleteGoing through this chapter of scripture for the bazzilionth time and things that I hadn't thought about came crashing down on me. I did write it, but hardly live it. Love you. Understand your move from facebook. Been modifying my behavior on there since the begining. It is my link to my family and friends so I still am on there, only pray that I am selective in my...musings. ;) Hope we can chat tonight. Miss you.