May 13–Love is Patient

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great time this past weekend and enjoyed a wonderful Mother’s Day. My sister and I had our plans changed yesterday when I got a 6:00 am call letting me know mom had had a seizure and was being transported to the hospital. As Sissy says “You never know where the day will take you.” We both had big plans with our children, but alas, mom was definitely a priority. By afternoon, she was back home and doing much better. 


“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...It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. ”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-5, 7‬ ‭NIV‬‬


We can say we love someone all day long, but unless our love turns in to action, it isn’t a love that “never fails.” I was helping mom eat a cookie and while she was taking the tiniest of bites, I kept thinking “love is patient...”. And sometimes loving people isn’t easy. We all know those folks that are very difficult for us, but even those close to us are sometimes just hard. We don’t want to be patient, or kind and we really do want to keep the record of what has been done wrong to us. But love doesn’t do that. It protects feelings and dignity; it trusts and it hopes; but above all, it hangs in there. Love is in it to the end. 


It’s hard. It’s not our nature to just ignore all and give out more, but that’s exactly what Jesus did. Even for those who murdered him, He loved and He provided a way for their salvation. That is real love, true love, amazing and outrageous love. Being kind and patient with someone who stepped on our toes back in 2017? That’s just taking one baby step on the road to looking like Jesus. 


Jesus, Savior, Lord of All, please teach us to love. We want to be patient and kind and caring and looking out for the best interests of others, but we know it’s only possible to truly love someone if we first love you. You are the perfect example for us and we want to learn to imitate you, to act as you would act. What love you showed us! We sing hallelujah to you, our Christ. You are the Alpha and the Omega, our all in all. Thank you for all you are and all you are going to be. Amen and amen. 


Love you dear one,

Pam

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

January 17, 2020

Happy Friday. It’s the end of another week and we have had more opportunities to share the love of Christ with those around us and sometimes that takes quite a bit of effort. I don’t know about you, but I’m not always anxious to embrace others and really listen to them or share with them (especially those who I don’t know well). Sometimes, I just look at them and think “Are you for real?” I don’t always agree with people over politics, sports or of course, religion. And let’s face it, we’d rather spend time with people we like and mostly agree.  And then I read my Bible. God hasn’t called us to sit in our little groups with only those we naturally gravitate towards, but to love people—all people, even those who aren’t necessarily loveable. In this passage, Paul writing to the people of Colosse remarks on how wonderful it is that they truly love others. That love must have really been something over and above the normal and he tells them that it is evident that it comes from the Holy Sp
Read more

January 15, 2020

Happy Wednesday to you. I hope your week is going well. Yesterday, I went to Sams. I was out of things like trash bags, toilet paper, and chicken, so off I went. I like going to Sams because there is always lots to look at and the isles are nice and wide. Everytime I’m there, I am amazed at how much stuff and everything from diapers to TVs to mangos to beds. It just seems incredible that so many things in such quantities are all under one roof.  King David never saw a store with as much stuff aa Sams of course, but he did see countless miracles and understand that God has plans. He knew from creation and history that he was serving a God of miracles and he know that God loved him and his people and would take care of them. He was amazed and awe-struck by the fact that a God who had done such great and mighty things not only cared about his people but that He loved them with such a great love.  “Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can co
Read more

January 9, 2020

It’s Thursday and I woke up to the blowing wind! Lots of it—I’m dreading Boomer waking up and having to go outside with him. That harsh, bitter wind seems cruel and almost evil. But I’ll wrap myself up with a fe layers and boots and brave it all.  Sometimes I think we try to do that with things we know aren’t right—things that are evil. We try to wrap ourselves up and just wade into it, but Paul tells us we should reject it—stay away from it. “Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:20-24‬ NIV When he wrote this he’d been in Berea and the Christians there diligently searched the scriptures to make sure everything Paul said was in line. Paul here is encouraging the Thessalonians to
Read more