Devotionals: The True meaning of Love : 1 Corinthians 13 :4-7

1 Corinthians 13 :4-7 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

I always thought I knew the true meaning of Love until I begin dating my best friend from High-school. We had been friends for about seven years and then he asked me to be in a relationship. I had always heard that you should never date your friend/best friend(because you might turn around and lose that person in the end without a friendship or relationship), but we decided to conquer our fears and give it a try anyways.

The first three months was a dream , the next six was “la-la land”. After the first year though as my Grandma would say “ Stuff hit the fan”. We were arguing every so often, breaking up and getting back together, and hitting the same roadblocks over and over. A lot of it had to do with immaturity; pettiness on my behalf (welp), trust issues, jealousy, insecurities, all of those things . We would be good for a few day or months, then we would go back, to “ stuff hitting the fan” .

It wasn’t until most recently that I acknowledged that I had been abusing the word
 "Love", and  using it too loosely . Of all people, shouldn't I know? "Love" , like the back of my hand? I mean I do have a blog titled "LivingLovingEncouraging". It was time for me to really understand and take in "Love's" definition. 

The Merriam-Webster dictionary lists the definition of Love as - a quality or feeling of strong or constant affection for and dedication to another. This definition seemed too simple, too easy, too effortless for me. I decided to refer to the Bible. I knew God would define it best. For his Love surpasses all.  1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 says "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres".

Though change does not happen in a day and no one but God is perfect,  now that I have read this scripture and know God’s true meaning of love, I will meditate on this and use it as a reference on a daily basis and during those hard and pressing times.  I will think of patience while waiting in the long line at Starbucks instead of huffing and puffing, I will really listen to others, rather than listening to respond. How can you love better today after learning this definition? Let's strive to continue living in the true meaning of Love today. 

Be Encouraged,

Noelani