Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5
She once loved with a tender touch, wiping every tear
Prepared to take down the monsters in your closet that caused you fear
Peacemaker, cookie baker, storyteller—Young mother of the year
Now she loves with a clenched fist, with fighting and screaming behavior
For the illness in her old age has weakened this mighty warrior
Hurtful words, inconsolable heart, exhaustible—longing to see her Savior
Yet you still love her because love has patience that does not waiver
She divided your pain and multiplied your joy, truly a godsend
But deaf ears refused to listen about a Savior who would bring her own pain to an end
Dream chaser, love starved, lost sheep—Unsaved best friend
The one night stand you warned her about didn’t turn out as she envisioned
Now post-abortive and brokenhearted, pain emanates from her regretful decision
Judgments are made and gossip spreads; the destruction creates family division
Yet you still hold her hand because love is kind when under God’s supervision
She attends all her friends’ weddings, admiring their new love with a smile
She wonders where the prince charming is that will one day walk her down the isle
Christ-following single, ministry champion, waiting on love but it’s taking a while
The couples start to have families and she attends the birthday celebrations
Fear stirs up in her heart because the one she admires pays her no attention
Is she not good enough to have what they have? She wonders as she begins to doubt God’s intentions
Knowing love does not envy; she returns to the Word because it says she is one of God’s perfect creations.
His identity is wrapped around his paycheck, Gucci suits and a flashy car
He’s the young Mr. Popularity who invests in these things he thinks will take him far
Lonely at night, wondering where to find love, he heads out to the nearest bar
He converses with the intoxicated old man next to him wearing a wrinkled old suit
With nothing left to brag about, he was a former Mr. Popularity who lost everything on trivial pursuits
“Love others with your wealth” the old man slurs to the young guy, “and in your heart, let it take root.”
“Because you need to understanding that love does not boast if it is to bear fruit”
Awards and trophies grace his home—a top athlete with a career at his height
He places a high price on contracts and interviews, and smiles when he sees his fans and paparazzi fight.
He no longer performs for the love of the game, rather for the fame and spotlight.
An injury one fateful day dims the lights and silences the calls
His jerseys remain unsold on the store racks at the malls
Hurt, rejected and forgotten by his fans, he builds up protective walls
Love cannot enter until his pride falls
He zigzags through traffic and cuts in line
Needing to get everywhere fast even if it means ignoring a street sign
While talking on his cell phone he gets pulled over and incurs a police fine
Upset at life’s supposed unfairness
He grumbles at people’s slowness and lack of awareness
Pondering the reasons that his life is full of stress
He doesn’t realize that love is not rude and makes life strenuous
He sees her pain when she looks him in the eye
Responsible for the destruction of their marriage with an affair and a big lie
His selfish desires now quenched, weren’t worth seeing his wife and children cry
He begs her to stay but outside of divorce—she gives him no other options As they begin to separate things their anger rises and so does the tension
Having destroyed and lost so much, his heart surrenders it’s self-preoccupation
His love is no longer self-seeking; he leaves her with everything—even his portion
Two unique individuals sealed in by the vows they swore
With their different perspectives and life experiences they move into the only apartment they could afford.
A step on the toe here and a bicker there, they knew life would never get bored
Personality adjustments and extra grace are required daily from the Lord
They settle into their roles by gender
The wife wants to scream when he breaks her new blender
The husband sees an iron burn mark on his favorite pants and he wants to hang her
Instead they look at each other and simply smile because love does not easily anger
They wait up all night again—neither able to sleep
They pray to the Lord for their Prodigal son’s soul to keep
Hoping the police station will call again and not the city morgue—they weep
Reminiscing about his love for the guitar and playing their favorite worship song
Even when endless nights of arguing and rebellion made one year seem twice as long
Until their prodigal returns, their faith in the Lord keeps them strong
Then when he comes home they’ll simply embrace him because love keeps no record of wrong
