As a wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend, Christian, I love a lot. I know how to love, right? I am also a teacher and foster parent, I love SO many people, don't I? Clearly, I have this figured out. Or not.
With Valentine's day upcoming, I've been trying to think about ways to show my love that isn't just making heart shaped pizza (no shame in that, all- that was last year! and a hit...). I want to be sincere, sweet, and meaningful in the love expression- but how? I decided to try to do a little mini-study in my devotions on love. So, where do I begin... 1 Corinthians, of course!
1 Corinthians 13 1-7 ESV
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
When I recently decided I needed to reflect on what God's idea of love is rather than my own, I came to this passage first.
The passage follows a chapter regarding spiritual gifts. That hit home for me in a new way, mainly because I am not a gifted speaker, clearly not a prophet and I obviously have never moved mountains or become a martyr. BUT- I do feel called to work our my salvation through a few ways. I don't know these are definitely an area of spiritual gift but being involved in ministry in our church and being a mother (and at different points in my life teaching) are areas that I feel called to serve.
In those areas, if I am working without visible, real, true love- it is not going to be a successful endeavor for the glory of God.
Really, where it hit me hard was in my parenting.
Love is patient and kind. Not love is patient or kind... and.
Love does not envy or boast. Not even when the baby is soooo excited to see Dada (her first word).
Love is not arrogant or rude. Now, I'm generally not arrogant, I know I'm VERY in need of improvement but rude... yup, another check mark on occasion.
Love does not insist on its own way I do insist on my way (or the highway) often with my kiddo. Doesn't everyone? So how do you find the balance? Obedience in a parent-child relationship is commanded in the Bible. BUT, maybe I should not insist that MY way is the only way to achieve obedience.
Love is not irritable or resentful- enough said, right?
Love does not rejoice with wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Buddy has not been the most honest of kids. He is sneaky and often trying to manipulate things and yet, I need to try to believe him, believe that his behavior can improve, hope for him to be making better choices, and if not endure it because I love him. This... this will take some prayer.
At the same time, God gives us grace to love. He loves us, shows us how free and wonderful love can be. Loving sweet, endearing children can be easy, it's just that the working out of the love has to reflect God's kind of love and endure past the sweetness of the emotions that follow a hand held, snuggles on the couch, and kisses goodnight.
I hope your love is only encouraged by this post. Feel free to drop me a line or two!
