Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. ~ I Cor. 13:4-8

My husband, Patrick, loves me. Some of you may be thinking “and the point is?” I don’t mean that Patrick says he loves. He really loves me. I was teaching a class at a Junior College and there was a quiz in the book about “How do you Love?” I don’t remember where my score was (but I do remember it was surprisingly low). My husband had an almost perfect score for Agape Love. That true, love you no matter what love. He loves me enough to work a full time job, work part time for a college while taking 6 hrs of graduate level coursework and still vacuum, grocery shop, wash laundry, clean the kitchen and make (and clean up after) dinner. He brings me flowers when I am having a bad day. He leaves me alone when I need a break and wakes up early in the morning when I need to talk to him. He loves me.

You may be wondering again, other than bragging on your spouse. What’s the point. The point is God loves us the same. No matter how people treat us here on earth God loves us with an even greater love than my husband shows me. God loves us on our good days and bad days. He loves us when we feel pretty and when we feel like a slob. God gives to us because he loves us. When we are at the end of our rope He is there to catch us. Because He loves us. A simple concept, but not easy to feel.

Now a confession. I’m not a naturally loving person. I am driven and task oriented. The higher the stress the less I want to care about others, outside of the irony of those related to my career choices. I know that it is something I need to work on. I can learn a lot from my Husband about how God calls us to love.

Prayer: God, help me see the ways I can love others today. How can I be a conduit to show them how you love them unconditionally, without barriers, complete perfect love. God help me to see ways that you show your love to me through others in my life. When people look at me, let them see you. Amen.