What Can I Say About Love?

Love. The Apostle Paul already wrote on Love in the Bible better than I possibly ever could. It sums up the entire concept. In his words, “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.”

Love is patient with my children when they aren’t responding fast enough.

Love is kind even when I’m in a bad mood.

Love does not envy. Envy is a destroyer of friendship. I have seen it happen. I commit to not envying my friends but rather be happy for their good things.

Love does not boast. Applying this is a little more tricky for me. I suppose it means I view accomplishments humbly and do not boast about them.

Love is not proud. Pride is all about oneself. Pride is selfish. Pride is the root of all sin because it says, “I can be like God.” Pride definitely destroys relationships. Not being proud means saying I’m sorry when I wrong my husband or kids.

Love does not dishonor others. That means love honors others. Not repeating things people are ashamed of. (Especially your husband!) Sometimes honoring someone and possibly their wishes means doing something you don’t want to do. There are so many ways to honor others.

Love is not self-seeking. The flip-side on this one is it is other-seeking. Not thinking what I can do for myself in a relationship but what I can do for others. This means when I’m with a group of girlfriends and can’t get a word in, that I love that I can sit there and listen to them. I don’t have to butt in the conversation.

Love is not easily angered. For me, this really comes back to my children and husband and being patient. Giving the benefit of the doubt to those I love most. The people you know most seem to be the easiest to not give slack to for some reason.

Love keeps no record of wrongs. This means not bringing up something my husband may have done years ago. Letting it go, forgiving.

Love does not delight in evil. For me this would be gossip. Not being anxious to talk about someone. In a sermon my brother once preached he called gossip the “devil’s intimacy”. If I find I have a relationship that seems based on talking about someone else I realize that we don’t have a true bond. It is interesting to see what happens to those relationships when you determine not to do that anymore. Is anything left?

Love rejoices with the truth. This is speaking truth at all times to those I love. When they are hurt or depressed speaking truth into their life can be a fresh breath. Obviously this applies at home too!

Love always protects. This means when I love someone, even when they are doing something wrong, protecting them by not telling others about it. I know that this will come in handy with my children when they are teenagers. Not that there isn’t a time to share with someone close and prayer, but not to just air it out in your general atmosphere. I have been unprotective before and it is a bad feeling left in your mouth when you realize what you have done has hurt someone.

Love always trusts. This can be a hard one. Especially when we know their are legitimate reasons not to. I feel blessed to have a husband who I am not suspicious of, but the fact is not everyone is in that positions… so I’m not sure how to apply this one.

Love always hopes. Hope sees the bright side and believes it can be. Having hope in love doesn’t say… “things will always be like this, I can’t take it!” but hoping and praying always for more.

Love always perseveres. This means also that we don’t give up. Even when things are so tough. It’s that “sickness and in health, richer or poorer” part of the marriage vows. Persevere through good and bad.

And lastly, LOVE NEVER FAILS.

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Written for Skribbit’s February Write Away Contest.

So Excited & Thankful

I’m so grateful for my children. I’m finding with this third pregnancy that I am excited more than ever. Kind of ironic when you consider that I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old to nurture while feeling sick from this pregnancy. However, the fact that I’m so deeply in love with those little guys only adds to the excitement knowing there will be a 3rd little one added to our family that we will love just as much. We are so thrilled that the love in our hearts will be growing even more and that Owen and Lukas will have yet another sibling to have as a friend forever.

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Written for the November 2007 Mamablogga group writing project.

MamaBlogga November Group Writing Project.

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When He Comes Running Back

I love Lukie’s age so much. I wish I could freeze him. This may be due to the fact that I birthed and nursed a newborn when Owen was this age. I find that time so fuzzy. It may be due to the fact that the reality of his growing up so quickly is staring me in the face. The fact that his face keeps changing causing me to confront the disappearance of his babyhood melts me. All those things considered, the thing that hits me the most, the thing that tugs at my heart strings, when anything goes wrong, he always comes running back.

I’m still important to him. Is that selfish? I mean the world to him right now and I love that. I love his tiny arms around my neck seeking consolation of any kind. I love his craving for my comfort. When he’s close I still smell baby. I know that smell is fading, quickly.

He just decided he wanted a big boy bed. It’s early for that. We did it anyway. He has gone “potty” on the toilet 5 times at his own request. He goes into nursery at church with out a fear. Awe. I love these baby years. They go far too fast.

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Written for the October Mama Blogga Group Writing Project.