Love is….

Growing up I loved to look through the comics section in the Sunday paper at my grandparent’s house and cut out the ‘love is’ comic. I’d daydream of the day that I was happliy married with a dozen kiddos in tow (yes, I actually wanted a dozen) and living in bliss.

Fast forward 25+ years… I’m happily married with 2 amazing kids and walking in grace.

Since Valentines day is just around the corner… here’s my take on what ‘love is’

Love is…. a gentle answer (especially when everything inside of you feels like screaming)
    What I’ve learned in the last 25 years
    – As a wife, I need to respect my husband as the head of our  
      household and love him unconditionally. My opinion may not
      always be right. I need to think before letting rash, hurtful
      words leave my lips
      My counsel to my husband is invaluable and I need to continually pray for wisdom to  
      guard my heart and mind
    – As a mother, I set the tone in my home (for better or worse)
      The tone in my voice makes a world of difference in how my children will respond to
      discipline

Love is…patient and deliberate
   What I’ve learned in the last 25 years
    – No matter how anxious you are about moving on to the ‘next step’ – STOP and enjoy
      where you are at. Be intentional about making each day count. I made the mistake
      many years ago pushing my husband for a baby. It nearly tore us apart, he wasn’t
      ready and he just wanted to enjoy being with me.
    – Have purpose in all that you do. Make even the small things count. Because those
      are the moments in life that you will build on.

Love is… accepting God’s forgiveness
     No matter how many times I fail, no matter how many bad decisions I make – God
     forgives. And He forgives, completely.

Let God’s love define who you are. You can’t go wrong.
1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 “Love is patient,<sup class="crossreference" value="(I)”> love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.<sup class="crossreference" value="(J)”> ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,<sup class="crossreference" value="(K)”> it is not easily angered,<sup class="crossreference" value="(L)”> it keeps no record of wrongs.<sup class="crossreference" value="(M)”> ⁶ Love does not delight in evil<sup class="crossreference" value="(N)”> but rejoices with the truth.<sup class="crossreference" value="(O)”> ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”<sup class="crossreference" value="(P)”>