I can read bedtime stories till the cow jumps over the moon and sing "Ten Little Monkeys" until I want to call the doctor, but if I don't have love, I'm as annoying as a ringing phone.
I can chase a naked toddler through the house while cooking dinner and listening to voice mail, I can fix the best cookies and Kool-Aid in the neighborhood, and I can tell a sick child's temperature with one touch of my finger, but if I don't have love, I am nothing.
Love is patient while watching and praying by the front window when it's 30 minutes past curfew.
Love is kind when my teen says, "I hate you!"
It does not envy the neighbors' swimming pool or their brand-new mini van,but trusts the Lord to provide every need.
Love does not brag when other parents share their disappointments and insecurities,and love rejoices when other families succeed.
It doesn't boast, even when I've multi-tasked all day long and my husband can't do more than one thing at a time.
Love is not rude when my spouse innocently asks, "What have you done today?"
It does not immediately seek after glory when we see talent in our children, but encourages them to get training and make wise choices.
It is not easily angered, even when my 15-year-old acts like the world revolves around her.
It does not delight in evil (is not self-righteous) when I remind my 17-year-old that he's going 83 in a 55-mph zone, but rejoices in the truth.
Love does not give up hope.
It always protects our children's self-esteem and spirit, even while doling out discipline.
It always trusts God to protect our children when we cannot.
It always perseveres, through blue nail polish, burps and other bodily functions, rolled eyes and crossed arms, messy rooms and sleep overs.
Love never fails. But where there are memories of thousands of diaper changes and painful labor(s), they will fade away. Where there is talking back, it will (eventually) cease. (Please, Lord?) Where there is a teenager who thinks she knows everything, there will one day be an adult who knows you did your best.
For we know we fail our children, and we pray they don't end up in therapy, but when we get to heaven, our imperfect parenting will disappear. (Thank you, God!) When we were children, we needed a parent to love and protect us. Now that we're parents ourselves, we have a heavenly Father who adores, shelters us and holds us when we need to cry.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
9 comments:
Thanks, Deanna! I really needed this and, in fact, am going to print it out and keep it handy.
This is a lovely post, both for those with little nekkid butts to chase (I so enjoyed those years!), to those of us who have sassy teens as well--been there, done that, still there! BTW, don't forget that today is the Super Summer Sunday Sweepstakes. Please stop in and leave a caption! And one more question: How is your friend Andy? Please keep us posted!
This has always been my fave passage. Thanks for this! And thanks for visiting me today! I had no idea I was saucy, so that was a lovely surprise this morning. :-)
Fabulous!
Congrats, salutations and felicidades on being the SITS Roll Call Winner! What did you win? And speaking of winning, have you tried those Pop'rs yet? I'm on the edge of my seat!
Congrats on the SITS roll call winner!!
This is a lovely passage with so many great messages. Thanks so for sharing !
Wonderful post!!!
Thank you!
Wow - God knew i needed to read that. The whole thing is great - here is the one i'll be working on this week: Love is not rude when my spouse innocently asks, "What have you done today?"
ugh.
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