L.O.V.E.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8Love: patient, kind, humble, honors, selfless, slow to anger, forgiving, truthful, protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres, never fails.

Love. We underestimate it. We don't take it as serious as we should. And a lot of times, we simply just don't do it. 

They say that over time, love fades away. But in my opinion, we just kill it. We let it get sick, and then we don't bother to nurture it back to wellness. Why? We give reasons like, we're busy, we're tired, we're incompatible. But when it all comes down to it, it's because we're selfish. 

In any relationship, friendship, marriage, etc., the problem is that, usually,  in one way or another, either one person gets selfish, or they both do. 

But when you get down to it, loving people isn't that hard to do. It's our own pride that keeps us from doing it. Love is telling someone what you love about them. Love is forgiving someone. Love is being honest. Love is trusting. Love is being patient. Love is being protective. Love is being selfless. Love is being understanding. Love is giving a gift. Love is giving a hug. Love is listening. Love is doing the dishes. 

Love is a lot of things. Love is often a lot of simple things. 

So then why are we so quick to set love aside? Are we afraid? Are we conceited? Are we too busy? Do we just not think about it? 

We earn our friend's trust, but then we talk about them behind their backs. 

We say "'Til death do us part", but then we get bored, selfish, or tired. 

We constantly have people pouring into us, but we continue to live for ourselves. 

Love is the answer. 

Love turns tears into smiles. Love turns fear into breathing. Love turns anger into forgiveness. Love turns selfishness to selflessness. Love turns tired eyes to vibrant life. Love can change everything. 

We must stop brushing off love. We must start thinking about it. We must start loving. 

1 John 4:19 We love because he loved us first. 

We didn't deserve God's love, yet he so graciously loved us anyway. 

There are always people that are harder to love than others. But taking a step away from my life, and looking at how God loves me, I have to say, I could be considered "hard to love" just the same. 

But God loved me anyway. 

If God's love is in us, God's love should be shining through us to others. God's selfless, patient, humble, kind, forgiving love should be the same love we model in our own lives. 

God says, "I love you. I promise I always will. I chose you. Forever I'll choose you still."

So we must take a look at our own lives, and the love we have with other people.
 "Before we burn down all our bridges, let's look awhile at what we've built. We'll take turns asking for forgiveness, and watch our love grow deeper still."