Looking back, I’m
realizing that I used to think that love was one of the weakest things that
could happen to a person. In books, one of the main characters falls in love (O
my beautiful flower, I love you so much!). Then something happens to the person
they love e.g. they are stupid and get kidnapped (Augh! Come save me!) so the
main character runs off to rescue them (Don’t worry, my peach! I’ll save you!).
However, their “love� often results in their imminent death (*gurgle, gurgle*)
and their loved one still being in the clutches of the villain (Oh, dear…
*gulp*). All humor aside, I really did believe that love made you weaker rather
than stronger because it gave you a vulnerability. I never wanted to love or
admit love because I thought it would make me weaker. But God is challenging
that and giving me a completely different perspective on what love truly is.
Love IS strong.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all
things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
1 Corinthians
13:4-8a
This month, God is
bringing that passage to life for me.
Love is patient //
The older Thai girls as they wake early and do their chores every day, help
take care of the younger girls, and go to school and do homework. Challenge –
learning to be patient with my teammates at all times.
And kind // One of
the house fathers observing that I drink milk in my tea then going out and
buying a large container of it so that I could have milk in my tea every
morning. The same house father helping me learn figure out the chords for a
song on the guitar that I learned to surprise my team leader. Challenge –
learning to be kind not just in action but also in emotion.
Love does not envy
// Watching how the Thai girls don’t covet each others’ belongings but rather
share with a generous and sincere heart. Challenge – taking joy in the here and
now where God has placed me rather than wishing I was somewhere else, doing
something else.
Or boast // When
one of the Thai girls accomplishes something impressive they smile and modestly
say, “Thank you!� then don’t mention it again and blush whenever someone else
brings it up. Challenge – not boasting about the talents God has blessed me
with but simply appreciating and honing them.
It is not arrogant
or rude // The Thai people not being rude at all, even when I ask tons of
questions or do things that are possibly not culturally acceptable. Challenge –
learning not to be proud in my accomplishments but instead to give the glory to
God because He’s the one Who has blessed me with the ability.
It does not insist
on its own way // Observing some of the other missionaries devote their lives
to serving others which is all about not insisting on their own ways but
instead surrendering to God’s will and in doing so, serving the Thai people and
us. Challenge – God showing me how to allow Him to form my desires to His so
that I can show preference for my teammates, giving up what I want so that they
can experience something they want..
It is not irritable
or resentful // The Thai girls being incredibly patient with me and positive in
helping me learn how to speak Thai and play the guitar. Challenge – Learning to
hold my tongue and let go of irritation and resentment at others’ small quirks
and habits because in the end, it really doesn’t matter.
It does not rejoice
with wrongdoing // One of the girls who apologizes profusely whenever she does
something slightly out of line – accidentally spilling rice, nearly hitting one
of us with a ball that she’s tossing with another girl, etc. Challenge –
Learning to hold myself to a right standard – God’s standard – as opposed to
the standard of others, thus giving me a skewed perception.
But rejoices with
the truth // The Thai girls as they bow their heads and quietly whisper their
requests and praises to God in the hazy light of dawn. Finding joy when a new
girl is rescued from the clutches of the sex trade. Challenge – Striving to
learn and know truth, the truth of God which brings true understanding and
wisdom.
Love bears all
things // The love these girls have for their families, even after much abuse
has still been suffered. Challenge – Loving those I have been placed with 24/7,
through all the ups and downs and struggles and triumphs.
Believes all things
// The way my teammates believe in me and have faith in what God is doing in my
life. Challenge – having the same faith in myself, and knowing without a doubt
that God can accomplish His will in my life.
Hopes all things //
The joy of hope that fills the girls’ eyes every time they talk about the
future and their dreams. Challenge – continually striving to see people through
Jesus’ eyes so that I can live in His hope and share that hope with them.
Endures all things
// My boyfriend and family, who are halfway around the world, still loving and
supporting me and encouraging me throughout this season of my life. Challenge –
learning to joyfully endure any trials God sets in my path because the fight
makes me stronger and the climb over brings me closer to Him.
Love never fails //
God. Your love for me never fails! It never runs out; it never gives up on me.
Challenge – To love like You.
Listen to the song. Praise God for a bit.
Don’t be afraid to stand up and dance crazy like nobody’s watching! God’s the
only One you have to care about. Let His love fill you until you can’t be
still!
