What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end. Love never dies.
At Graceland People, we’ve been talking through what it means for us as a community “to live by faith, to be known by love and to be a voice of hope.” Last week, we focused on Love – and broke down what is known as the ‘love chapter’ —–1 Corinthians 13. Many times we hear these inspirational words in a wedding or we see them written as quotes on plaques or notecards. They are moving & motivational — and can also hit you smack dab in the face — when faced to see beyond the inspiration & look to applying what it means to truly love.
So is the case with me. Our challenge Sunday was to focus on 1 (or more?) areas (listed above) in which is a daily struggle for us to ‘love’ in everyday situations. I automatically knew mine: Love is not envious (doesn’t want what it doesn’t have). I can’t tell you how many times a day I see or think about friends that have the opportunity to be home with their children. I go to Target & see young moms with their young kids — and I get sad. I read FB statuses of what so & so did today — and I get sad. I think about things Tatum and I could do — but at 6:00 pm — and I get sad. I am amazingly grateful for my job, the company I work for, and we have been extremely blessed since I have switched jobs over the past year. I know that I am a natural mother by saying I wish I had more time with my kiddo – and I also know the sacrifices that come with ‘not working.’ My heart is hopeful for the day that our last debt is paid off (hence the reason I am working) so that I can have the option to work part time (I know I could not stay home full time, I might go insane) & have a few days a week with the kids to play, swim, go to the park, read books outside, etc. Until that day – my struggle is to learn to be happy & joyful for my friends that have chosen the decision & made that sacrifice.
This weekend reminded me of more flaws that I have — Love is not easily angered (doesn’t fly off the handle). Why is it that the closest people to us sometimes frustrate us the most? Why do the smallest, most ridiculous things ruffle my feathers? The Mr. Potato Head toys were not put back correctly. The plate is in the sink, not the dishwasher. The 6 loads of laundry are all washed, but in the laundry basket getting wrinkled. The pillow that we washed 5 weeks ago is still laying in the bathtub drying (it’s just got to be dry by now, right). All stupid ‘tasks’ that in the big scheme of life mean nothing. NOTHING. Yet, the frustration builds when things aren’t done (my way I suppose) or my mind is not being read. So silly. So immature. Yet, my daily battle.
Hang in there – I think we all struggle with those thoughts from time to time. Today, I’d give just about anything to be sitting in a quiet office dressed in nice clothes without puke (or other unmentionables) on them.
It helps me to remind myself that no matter what (good or bad), this season will only last for a short while before life changes again. You’ve got a vision and a plan for where you want to be and it’s only a matter of time until your dreams come true
Maybe it would help knowing another person’s perspective of you. I’ve read many of your posts and had to fight some that stuff of my own. Example: you live in a place with a home owner’s association, you ALWAYS seems so nicely put together, you’re very well versed in the way you write, you blog consistently (probably because either you only have one child or you have access to a computer way more than I do). I hope you will take all of this as one HUGE compliment!
My thought is this: God, in His love for us never looks on us and says, “nope, not good enough, can I get something more here?” The more fully we understand that kind of love, the more we’ll be able to live it out.
Love you! Thanks for such honesty.