Tired from my nearly four-hour drive, I sink into the hotel bed the second I walk into the room. My bags fall to the ground, and at the identical time, the tears begin to fall, too. I’m exhausted and overwhelmed. In the midst of an argument with my husband, which doesn’t occur all too often, I had to depart for a protracted work trip—away from him, away from my children, away from all of the messiness that had just stirred in my heart.
Usually, when my emotions are strong, they’re attempting to teach me something and, on the very least, open my mind and heart to things I’m too stubborn to internalize. As the ache in my belly clinched, reminding me of the joy and stress of the upcoming days, an email popped up on my phone screen. I don’t think it was a coincidence that the message jogged my memory of my husband and my love for him. I used to be reminded of the day that solidified my marriage, our marriage. I used to be reminded of my vows and the guarantees my husband and I made together– the guarantees made before countless comfortability and the turmoil that life can throw at you.
While we didn’t use scripture, and we wrote our own vows, our words held all the identical sentiments of a love that was latest but strong and able to endure anything that it faced– reflections of those of 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It doesn’t envy. It doesn’t boast. It shouldn’t be proud. It doesn’t dishonor others. It shouldn’t be self-seeking. It shouldn’t be easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs. Love doesn’t enjoyment of evil but rejoices with the reality. It all the time protects, all the time trusts, all the time hopes, all the time perseveres.”
Have you ever stopped to think about the facility of those words? Phrases from scripture which can be so well-known you will discover them on anything from home decor, to napkins, and even stickers. This scripture is filled with the entire fundamentals couples strive to have in any relationship, especially a lifelong commitment and marriage. It’s a portion of the bible, now so popular it’s referred to by some because the Love Chapter of Apostle Paul, and it boldly declares that love is kind, and true, and selfless, and patient, and greater than anything, stuffed with the grit to beat any obstacle or tribulation, for it “all the time perseveres”.
Paul gave us tangible descriptions of what love needs to be and what it should appear like: patient, kind, humble, forgiving, trusting, hopeful, and protracted.
It’s the type of love that the majority dream of yet never find– one I’m blessed enough to know. One I’m thankful for, even in all of its imperfections.
When you’re thinking that of a vow, a promise, that you ought to solidify the hopes, goals, and trajectory of your life and your marriage, you’re thinking that of the daring guarantees of a endlessly love, a selfless love, a love that may and can endure anything that comes. You consider a love that’s patient, kind, protective, and stuffed with grit. You think of affection just like the one in Corinthians 1.
The influence of this passage emphasizes the essential and transcendent qualities of affection. Though Paul wasn’t literally speaking about romantic love, we will, and will, still use the qualities of affection to encourage the ways through which we take care of others.
As this passage consumes my mind, I pull out my bible and skim your entire portion of this message. The impact of the words is visible by the continual tears which can be flowing from my eyes and the best way it suddenly feels hard to catch my breath. While my husband and I didn’t stand on the altar and turn into husband and wife while hearing Corinthians 1 read aloud by a member of the family or friend, their strength and the potential of their declaration are ones I feel we live by.
We vowed to grow together, knowing each considered one of us would grow otherwise through the years. We vowed to guard one another’s hearts, not wound them with words in anger or frustration. We vowed to embrace the imperfect because we’re each so delicately and beautifully imperfect. We vowed to be the hope-keeper when considered one of us is weary and to carry strength and perseverance when considered one of us is stagnant and paralyzed by temporary challenges.
We vowed that our love could be patient and sort. We promised to not envy or boast. We vowed to stay steadfast in our protection of a love that trusts, hopes, and perseveres. And in eager about that, it’s easy to see why so many newlyweds solidify their marriage with words from scripture that honor and teach all of those things.
Years into marriage, it could actually be easy to forget the romantic sentiments and statements out of your youth for those who aren’t intentional about them, concerning the guarantees you made in front of God and your whole family and friends. The key’s to do not forget that scripture is far too powerful to be left on the altar or just painted on wood home decor. It should be remembered, utilized, and lived.
There is infinite power in “Love is patient, love is kind.” So much power that I lift myself off the hotel bed, I pick my phone back up and call my husband.
I tell him I really like him. I tell him I’m sorry. I tell him that silly arguments cannot and is not going to distract me from the gratitude that I feel once I have a look at him each and day-after-day. I tell him that I trust and know the love that we share, and it’s larger than any disagreement and more powerful than anything we will or will face. I tell him that he’s the love of my life and, greater than anything, that I’m so glad we now have a love that may persevere.
Our love is built upon the ambitions and hopes of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. And for those who’re blessed, yours can be too.
There is immense power in “Love is patient, love is kind.”
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Hiraman
