Love

Several months ago, I did a study on the book "Preparing to be a Helpmeet". One of the assignments was to rewrite 1 Corinthians 13 in your own words... Lately I've been thinking about what love really is and how to do it, so I thought about this assignment, and decided that it might be of interest to you all. And yes, the first part is slightly tongue-in-cheek and aimed at the "stay at home daughter" crowd. haha. 

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Even if I read all the books that have ever been published on homemaking, even though I learned every craft there is to learn, even if I posted the cutest pictures ever and blogged the sweetest and most inspiring things, even if I have done every class and attended every conference, even if I wore denim skirts every day-- none of it would matter a single bit if I did not love. I would still be nothing. Even if I supported hundreds of orphans, even if I had faith enough to move mountains... it would make no difference. Without love, I am nothing. 


Love is patient--even when the waiting is very long and the circumstances very trying. 


Love is kind--without expecting kindness or acclaim in return. 


Love does not envy--it is content with the blessings God has provided. 


Love does not show off--it knows it is doing good and obeying God even if no one on earth notices it. 


Love is not puffed up and proud--it knows that love of this sort only comes from God--what does it have to brag about?? 


Love does not behave rudely--it is conscious of the comfort and pleasure of those around it. 


Love does not seek its own--it seeks the good of those around.


Love is not easily provoked--it is hard to make it upset. 

Love does not think evil--it focuses on the good in people and situations.


Love does not rejoice in iniquity--it rejoices in the truth. It is not interested in hearing mean, untruthful gossip.


Love bears all things-- puts up with lots, and also bears the burdens of others. 


Love believes all things that are true--it thinks the best, always. 


Love is very hopeful--it will find a way, and it believes good will come. 


Love endures all things-- once again, it "puts up" with everything--little annoying repetitive things, big, crazy, hard ones...


Love--true love: the kind that comes from God-- never fails.

(Verses 1-8a)

And here's the real thing:


 ¹Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 

 ²And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 

 ³And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 

 ⁴Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 

 ⁵Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 

 ⁶Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 

 ⁷Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 

 ⁸Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 

 ⁹For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

 ¹⁰But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 

 ¹¹When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

 ¹²For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

 ¹³And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.