A Glimpse

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 


Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 


 ...Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. ~1 Corinthians 13:1-9, 12-13

I've known about this "love chapter" and read it so many times, but suddenly there's new meaning to it. You see, now it reads like this to me: If I change Reed's diaper but I get annoyed about it, I'm wasting an opportunity to show love. If I feed Reed but watch TV while doing it and fail to make eye contact with him, I've missed out on a chance to show how important my little guy is to me.

Love is patient and kind - even when he's screaming or poops in the diaper I just changed 30 seconds ago. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude - for you see I have no right to be because this child is a blessing that I'm not worthy of. Love doesn't demand its own way - how can I when Reed needs me to care for him even when it means missed hours of sleep. It is not irritable though the task of raising a child can get oh so overwhelming at times. Love never gives up - Christ doesn't give up on me, and I'm to be an example of Him to Reed.

When I look at Reed I see a glimpse of the love God has for me as His child. And yet, I still don't understand its depths because His love for us is far greater than my human unconditional love of Reed. I understand better this week than last, but this side of heaven I'll never fully get it. But oh! I'm so grateful! And so, I'll choose to show love anyway - through the lack of sleep, through the tears (his and mine), the poopy diapers, aching body, and ignorance of being a new mom.