Giver of Love
"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 NIV)
Love is patient. It restrains itself. It holds back that which it is "justified" in giving. It waits.
Love is kind. It shows itself useful. It goes out of its way to make the way easier for someone else. It lightens a load.
Love does not envy. It does not want what someone else has. It wants the best for others. It is glad for them when they have it.
Love does not boast. It is others-centered. It does not inflate itself but builds another up.
Love is not proud. It does not brag about what it knows. It does not insist on doing everything on its own.
Love does not dishonor others. It wants their best good. It guards their purity and reputation.
Love is not self-seeking. It is not that love thinks less of itself but that it thinks of itself less. It looks for what will bless others.
Love is not easily angered. It doesn't fly off the handle at the slightest provocation. It isn't quick-tempered or always ready to be upset about something.
Love keeps no record of wrongs. It doesn't have a running tally of offenses. It doesn't put checkmarks for bad behavior on a mental chalkboard.
Love does not delight in evil. It doesn't want bad things to happen, even to its enemies. It isn't glad to see people "get what they deserve."
Love rejoices with the truth. It celebrates when good and right triumph. It is happy when justice prevails.
Love always protects. It watches out for others. It looks ahead for potential harm and wards it off. It defends.
Love always trusts. It believes the best. It assumes honorable intentions. It does not allow suspicions to multiply.
Love always hopes. It holds onto confident expectation in what is possible, even when it doesn't look probable. It sets its sights long and high.
Love always perseveres. It keeps on keeping on. It tries again. It pushes forward. It does not give up.
Love never fails. It can always be counted on. It doesn't wear out or trip up or let down.
"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us" (1 John 4:9-12).
Love is kind. It shows itself useful. It goes out of its way to make the way easier for someone else. It lightens a load.
Love does not envy. It does not want what someone else has. It wants the best for others. It is glad for them when they have it.
Love does not boast. It is others-centered. It does not inflate itself but builds another up.
Love is not proud. It does not brag about what it knows. It does not insist on doing everything on its own.
Love does not dishonor others. It wants their best good. It guards their purity and reputation.
Love is not self-seeking. It is not that love thinks less of itself but that it thinks of itself less. It looks for what will bless others.
Love is not easily angered. It doesn't fly off the handle at the slightest provocation. It isn't quick-tempered or always ready to be upset about something.
Love keeps no record of wrongs. It doesn't have a running tally of offenses. It doesn't put checkmarks for bad behavior on a mental chalkboard.
Love does not delight in evil. It doesn't want bad things to happen, even to its enemies. It isn't glad to see people "get what they deserve."
Love rejoices with the truth. It celebrates when good and right triumph. It is happy when justice prevails.
Love always protects. It watches out for others. It looks ahead for potential harm and wards it off. It defends.
Love always trusts. It believes the best. It assumes honorable intentions. It does not allow suspicions to multiply.
Love always hopes. It holds onto confident expectation in what is possible, even when it doesn't look probable. It sets its sights long and high.
Love always perseveres. It keeps on keeping on. It tries again. It pushes forward. It does not give up.
Love never fails. It can always be counted on. It doesn't wear out or trip up or let down.
"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us" (1 John 4:9-12).
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I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to tell me what you really think. Years ago, I explained to my then-two-year-old that my appointment with a counselor was "sort of like going to a doctor who will help me be a better mommy." Without blinking, she replied, "You'd better go every day." All of which is just to say I've spent some time in the school of brutal honesty!