A Widow's Valentine, Part II
God's love never fails
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
I Corinthians 13:4-8
Last week I wrote about two of the action words from I Corinthians 13:4-8. I loved my late husband, Ron, but it was not always easy to love him. Often, we are so caught up in the romance of love, that we forget that true love is based on God’s example and goes way beyond candy hearts and red roses. It’s not a “once a year” thing.
What other actions does true love require? Here is the list from I Corinthians 13:4-8.
Love is patient.
Love is kind.
Love does not envy.
Love is not proud.
Love is not rude.
Love is not self-seeking.
Love is not easily angered
Love keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth.
Love always protects.
Love always trusts.
Love always hopes.
Love always perseveres.
Love never fails.
It’s a long list! But notice the last part in verse 8. Other things will fail. Huge buildings will topple. Our bank accounts will be worthless. The many years I spent earning a doctoral degree and teaching will amount to nothing. Unless what I did, I did for love. Love is an internal process that is manifested outwardly. We cannot effectively show people we love them by saying the words or gifting them with valentines.
But we can show them love through our actions. Even when those actions are hard.
I was often worn out in the years of caring for an ill husband. I was frequently upset and frustrated and did not fully understand the pain he endured. I sometimes envied others who did not carry the same cares I did. But I always did my best to protect my husband, to make the best decisions I could for his care, and to hope that one day his pain would come to an end.
And it did. Not in the way I would have wanted, but in the way God saw was best.
Because God’s love will never fail.
In what ways have you understood or seen examples of God’s unfailing love?
Hi, Readers, I’d like to ask a quick favor. If you’ve enjoyed this post, maybe even learned something from it, would you consider sharing it on your own social media or email or even restacking it here on Substack? I’d appreciate it as I try to spread the realities of adult autism and widowhood!
The best example of profound love I've ever witnessed occurred September 11, 2006 in a Vista County courtroom. Pat forgave the drunk driver who was responsible for his son's death. Pat gave testimony of his faith and that of his deceased son and hoped the young man seated there would find that faith. Pat's message that morning was so profound it made the San Diego's local news station that night. Little did we know at the time, but my husband, Pat, would join Justin in heaven that December.