What's Love Got to do with It?

Today I found out what love is. I found out that love is not a feeling or emotion. Love is not infatuation, nor does love equal romance. But love does sacrifice. Love does give. Love is an action and a daily choice to commit to serving people. Love says, "It's ok if you don't squeeze the toothpaste tube the same way I do or if you never brush your hair." It also says, "I won't yell at you or abandon you if you fail me. I'll make room for you to sin, and I'll care for you no matter what you do to hurt me."

Love also listens. Love listens. LOVE LISTENS. In conversation, love doesn't listen by thinking of ways to respond to what the other individual is saying. Neither is love arrogant enough to think it knows what the other person is going to say before he or she says it. Love really wants to understand, and love is humble enough to ask questions. Love seeks to walk outside of its own personal experiences and attempts to reach into the lives and needs of the beloved.

I hope I am soon able to love in these ways, not to be easily irritated by small things, to be faithful no matter what, and to listen. I hope I am able to completely abandon all that our culture has convinced me that love is and to be transformed gladly by the Love that changes my heart and teaches me to walk in its ways. And knowing my past record, it's a good thing to remember that Jesus has already loved people perfectly on my behalf.