This is love

Am just thinking about how amazing love is.

A friend of mine had their birthday recently, and received a flowery card with a long verse inside in flowing writing. The person who sent it to her signed it something like this "I really do love you, not like the sentimental mush in this card"

That's the key really, people want love and reduce it to commercial slush, to a vague fuzzy concept, to something too weak to lean on and so easily discarded when a better offer comes along.

This is love

Love is patient- it has time and will wait to be received or reciproated
Love is kind- even when that kindness means being tough
It does not envy- it doesn't mind if the loved is prefered to the lover
It does not boast- it is prepared to love with no-one ever knowing
It is not proud- and therefore does not get offended or clamour for attention
It is not rude- it is sensitive
It is not self seeking- it is totally self denying
It is not easily angered- it sees the destructiveness of anger and would rather be wronged than destroy
It keeps no record of wrongs- it forgives as completely as it has been forgiven by Jesus
Love does not delight in evil- it does not get a kick about hearing of another's misfortune
But rejoices with the truth- it lives in the light and loves to see others find that light
It always protects- it really cares for well being of the beloved
It always trusts- it is not shaken 'cos it's source and anchor is in God
It always hopes- it has un wavering faith in something better
It always perseveres- it does not rise and fall with moods or emotions but continues steadfastly and reliably, even when there is every reason to give up.


Love is so amazing. Our love is so imperfect. But we have LOVE Himself living in us, and that is why we can dare to have a go, and take the risk, and get it wrong, and be hurt, and learn, and be healed, and go on, and grow more like Him who loves us eternally and beyond all measure