Love? what is that?

1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13

This is a passage most of us have read - if only at weddings. It is very commonly used because it melts our hearts. The poetic, sentimental phrasing of the words here elicit fond emotion because it is what we all long for. But is it something we all do?

I have always felt it easy for me to love others and I could define the ways that I do that here. But this morning, this passage hit me in a different light. At first glance I read the words and think it is a description of just how love works, easy - just like me. But then I think of those who hurt me - those who do not understand this passage at all. And as I was taking inventory of the many hurts in my life, I began to realize that honestly, I don't understand it either.

Love would not take inventory of past hurts.

I am sure I could list more ways I have missed the mark on this topic but thats not the direction I want to take. It really doesn't matter at this point and it doesn't help me to dwell on past mistakes or misunderstandings. All I can do is go forward and begin to learn how to truly understand the concept of love.

It is somewhat frustrating to me however because I don't believe that any of us can truly understand the complexity of this word. I am also beginning to think that none of us are even truly capable of loving others. We don't really even love ourselves so how in the world can we love someone else the way should?

My answer at this time in my life? Let God do it. When something is too big to handle or too hard for me to understand, there is really no other option. I absolutely can't love anyone.... unless I let God love me.

If you don't let someone love you, eventually you are replaced. That is human nature. And even though I know God will love me regardless of if I let Him - I can't truly experience love of any kind if I don't let Him in. Love is reciprocal - you have to give it to get it. God has this wonderful gift for me but if I don't unwrap it, I'll never know how truly precious it is. His idea of reciprocation is not to give something back to Him, but to pay it forward.

Because I am human, I will never fully grasp what love means. God knows this. He doesn't ask me to understand it. He just wants to be able to use me to show HIS love. The more I do this, the better my comprehension will be and my life will begin to reflect His love so others may gain some understanding as well. I am truly humbled by this challenge.

..... Faith, hope and love abide, but the greatest of these is love.