My Paraphrase and thoughts on I Cor. 13

It really doesn’t matter if I can speak all the languages of earth and even tongues. If I don’t really love others, I am only a noise maker, as undesirable to hear as kettle lids being banged together. I can have all kinds of wise insights and understand God’s secret plans, yes and even possess all knowledge. I can be so faith-filled that I can move mountains, but if I don’t love others, it’s nothing. Even if I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my own body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

• Love is patient and kind. Yet in my day to day dealings with the little one… How often do I become impatient? To be always gentle with them!

• Love is not jealous - Do I desire the recognition or blessings of others? Does it rankle me when things are unequal?

•  Or boastful - Do I quietly go about serving my Maker? Or do I ever seek recognition for my accomplishments, etc?

•  Or proud - Pride…so sneaky…so easy to fall into the trap of self focus and self seeking! Even my supposed humility can be so prideful!

•  Or rude - this one makes me think of that day when the phone didn’t hang up when I thought  it had, and I was in the middle of scolding my little one when a voice on the other end asked if I was finished…. Yes, if you are reading this, you know who you are and remember! I blushed and hung up without even answering. I was mortified… yet, my little ones here me speak like this and I don’t even think is it loving?

• It does not demand its own way - do I?

• It is not irritable - oooh! Ouch! Yes, I confess I do get irritated much to quickly…those daily irritations, the constant questions of toddlers, the foolish prattle….

• It keeps no record of being wronged… (you always do thus and so)

• It does not rejoice in injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.

• Love never gives up… those prayers that seem to go unanswered?

•  Never loses faith… when days and weeks and years pass by?

•  Is always hopeful… ALWAYS?!

•  And endures through every circumstance… the long moments of every day with his love?

“Oh Jesus Christ who bore the bitter cross for me -

 Stretched out Thine arms in love and agony

Impart Thy love and fill, transform my heart - 

Til’ it breaths naught but love - the love Thou art!”