Monday, August 20, 2012

Love: It Is What It Is

Something a little different for today.

Several years ago, my Mom embraced the phrase, "It is what it is." Something about that has always caused a negative reaction from me. However, after years of her ignoring my request to stop using the phrase, I gave in.  If you can't beat them, join them.  Well, okay, not in everything, but it is my Mom you know.

Most Christians are familiar with St. Paul's exhortations of "love" in 1Corinthians 13.  However, even these lines contain teaching in the negative, such as "love is not...".

In all relationships, and especially in marriage, it can be difficult to always see the positive as long as our focus is on ourselves instead of the other person.

So this morning, I thought I would just take those verses, and make them all positives, so that I can say this is what love is instead of this is what love is not. (My changes are in bold.)

You win Mom.  It is what it is.

Love is patient, love is kind. Love is trusting. Love is unassuming, it is authentic, it is respectful, it seeks the interest of the other, it is even-tempered, it forgives injury, it regrets wrongdoing and rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love always succeeds.

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