“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 records 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…” – I Corinthians 13:4-8a

Love is: patient, kind, protective, trusting, hopeful and perseverant. 

Love is not: envious, boastful, proud, rude, self-seeking, angry or begrudging.

On this day set aside to recognize and celebrate love, it seems only suitable to recognize and remember He who first loved us.  It is only because of His ultimate act of love, that we can even begin to glimpse the glory graced to us by God, who by His very nature, is love.  

My love letter, or list per se, is one abundant in gratitude and praise for He who shows me love, when love is seemingly impossible.  When I feel impatient, He comes alongside me and reminds me that love waits.  When I feel unkind, He showers me with His merciful kindness, again demonstrating to me how I might love as He loves.  When I feel afraid, He hides me in the shadow of His wings and reminds me that He will never leave me nor forsake me.  When trust is all but taken, He shows me again and again that He IS trustworthy.  When hope is hard to find, He tugs on my heartstrings and lifts my head toward heaven, where all hope forever dwells.  When I feel as if I cannot go on because the burden is too great for me to bear, He takes my hand and leads me, and exchanges my yoke for His.  For His yoke is easy and His burden is light.  He carries me when I cannot continue walking where He has called me to walk.

More than a feeling, love is a choice.  He chooses to change our hearts as we intentionally seek Him.  We must likewise, choose to love.  Jesus modeled what love is.  He touched the untouchables, spoke with sinners, healed the hurting, and loved the unlovable.  He chose to love.  He chose to love with His whole life, even unto death on the cross so that we might one day know what love really is.  My hope is that my heart would hear every whisper that my Savior speaks, so that I might love well. 

Heavenly Father, thank You that You first loved us so that we might learn to love.  Lord, may our love be patient and kind, protective and perseverant, trusting and full of hope.  May we love others well, as You have loved us.  Father help each of us to rejoice in the truth that tells us how You love us, regardless of what is surrounding us.  Love is not a feeling, it is a foundation of faith.  Form us to follow You in how we are to love.  Thank You that Your love never fails.  Amen.

May your day be abundantly blessed with His lovingkindness and the knowledge that YOU are the apple of His eye and His child in whom He delights.  YOU are a treasure to the King of all Creation, and He is pleased to call YOU His own.

With Love because He first loved us,

Shannon

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present