“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 Cor. 13:4-8a
My wife always likes to remind me (very frequently, I may add) that this is the most
“magical” time of the year. The weather is nicer, the sun seems to shine brighter,
and people go just a little more out of their way to show love. They will show love
to those they have never met and try harder to be the people that they want to
be. The longer we have been married the more I have begun to agree with her.
There is something about the holidays that makes everything seem more the way
it should be. The holidays, however, can also serve as a reminder of those with
whom we need to make amends.
There is not just “one time” a year to make amends, but this time of year seems
to make this a little easier. Hannah once told me that people are good and hope
to become the father, son, mother, daughter that they were called to be. This
sentiment has stuck with me through our years of being married. Sometimes the
ones we love fall short of our expectations and, in those times, we have to go to
meet them along the way. This takes putting away our pride and showing love
that is patient when we are not. Love that does not boast over who was right. Love
that is not resentful, but is ready and joyful to make amends. It takes a “magical”
kind of love that can only come from God because it is a love we are not strong
enough to give alone.
My challenge to you is to show love. Show love to those you have never met and
show love to those closest to you. I promise, you will never regret loving people
too much.
