If I speak in tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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 truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
This kind of love is not the love you see in the movies. It is not the love you hear on the radio with all the pop singers and indie love rockers. This is not the brand of love that teenagers read about in book series or the kind of love that comes to us naturally.
I realize, that this kind of love is supernatural. It only comes from the one that is perfect, who makes every imperfect thing - perfect.
I so struggle with this. I do not love easily at times. I let self get in the way. I look out for myself, I envy others and what they have, I can be rude and prideful.
I am so thankful that Jesus has made my imperfect heart - perfect. His life in me, living in me, makes this type of supernatural love possible. I don't experience it daily. I don't even experience it hourly. I think though that is not because of Jesus. It is because of me. I get in the way. I believe that I have to do everything on my own. I trade the truth for a lie.
Jesus never lets me forget though. He reminds me. A text from a friend, letting me know she is thinking about me. A night of worship at my church for women only. A song, a verse from the Bible. All ways to gently remind me that I am not alone and what the true story is.
So very thankful.
