What Love Looks Like

June 3, 2020

As I have gotten older, one of the things I get a great deal of enjoyment from is watching my grandkids. Whether happy, sad, or downright mad, their sweet honesty—even in the most trying moments—is wonderful to behold. You know exactly what they’re feeling. And you always know where you stand. There’s never any doubt…or dull moments.

Last week, my daughter’s children—Lucy, who is almost five, and Martin, now close to being two—were playing a game of catch with plastic handled ball scoops. Lucy was pretty good, but Martin, not so much. It didn’t take long before Lucy, throwing down her scoop in frustration, announced she no longer wanted to play.

Usually the sweetheart, Lucy, in that moment, was not kind to her brother. Instead of loving him as the little person he is, she put her four-year-old expectations on him, and he fell way short. As an adult you would think I would fare better. Truthfully though, I find myself doing that same thing to those I care about. It is where my heart misses the mark the most.

The Living Bible paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13:7 is such a lovely picture of what love looks like. Because the Lord is love, He shows us how we should care for one another.

“If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.”

Jesus demonstrated His love for us, when on the cross He gave Himself, no matter the cost.
Jesus is our greatest encourager for He is always cheering us on no matter how many times we stumble and fall.
The Lord doesn’t expect us to come to Him in perfection. He wants us to come to Him as we are, because He is our perfection.
As our defender, He took our sin that Satan accuses us of, to the cross.

So…

Whenever I start to mumble under my breath because someone is not doing as I think they should,
Whenever I decide to talk about someone and not be loyal,
Whenever I choose to think badly of someone because they have hurt or let me down,
Whenever I put my expectations on someone instead of accepting and loving them as they are,

I now run straight to Jesus. For I now realize it is me, who desperately needs Him to make my heart like His.

Please have mercy, Lord Jesus. Fill me with the love you have for me, so that I can give the same to others. In Your Precious Name, Amen.

With love,
Kimberly

Love