What Love Does
It’s easy to say, “I love you.” But what does that mean? This time of year, it often has to do with candy, flowers, and cards that try to communicate how we feel about someone. Although that’s a good start, I Corinthians 13:7 lays a framework for what love consistently does: It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (NIV).
Love always protects – physically, emotionally, and even one’s reputation. When I was growing up, my Mom told me that a wife should be careful to never say anything about her husband that would make him look bad. I’m so glad she did. It’s easy to share our frustrations about the ones we love – whether our husbands, kids, parents, friends – but it can damage their reputation. And that’s not very loving.
Love always trusts. This isn’t a blind faith. It has to do with wanting to think the best about someone. Choosing to see the good instead of jumping to a negative conclusion. Giving them the benefit of the doubt. It always hopes even when others have lost faith. And it always perseveres, especially in trials. True love is in it for the long haul.
The next time we tell someone we love them, let’s think about what it means and do our best to show them how truly cherished they are.
Just something I’m working on along the way.
