Love is.....

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Greg and I had 1 Corinthians 13 read at our wedding..... It's a common passage read at weddings. But I'm honestly not sure if I really read that and let it sink into my soul, heart and mind and really understood what it meant.... it doesn't ask us just to love when we feel like it or when life is all hunky dori and full of sunny skies and rainbows! We are called to love even when we don't feel like it and when someone puts us down, points blame, is opinionated towards us, when someone hurts us deeply. We are called to turn the other cheek....Matthew 5:9 "But I tell you, do not resist an evil person.If anyone slaps your on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek.

I don't know about you but that's hard for me to do. I want to talk back and tell them all they did wrong. But it doesn't matter what that person has said to me or how they treated me or their opinions. What does matter is how I respond and how I react. If I'm totally honest I'll tell you my first response is to act out of my flesh and let them have it...anger and all!! But if I'm walking according to God's Word then I'll let Him handle it. I can only control how I am. If I respond out of love the situation will work out much in the long run and I won't feel guilty later by replaying my negativity in my mind. Hurting someone else doesn't heal the hurt in my own heart. The only thing that will heal my heart is releasing that to Jesus and allowing love and forgiveness to flow through me. I have to think about my own life.... I don't deserve the love, forgiveness, mercy and grace that Jesus offers to me... nor will I EVER,. So, since I've received the love, forgiveness, mercy and Grace of God without deserving it then I need to extend that to others even when I feel they don't deserve it! 

Praise God for new mercies everyday! I'm beyond grateful that He allows me to struggle so I can understand Him and know Him better and to feel His Word come alive in me and speak truth to my heart! He.is.amazing!!

So, to end on a positive note here some acts of love I receive in my life from my loved ones! I'm so thankful for these and hope to never take these for granted!!

-a cup of coffee first thing every morning from my hubby

-a hubby who tells me he's proud of me and encourages me to do things I love and tells me how blessed he is with me.

-2 little girls who tell me daily or multiple times a day that they love me.

-compliments from those same little girls who tell me I'm beautiful (love is blond eh?)

-parents who come over to keep our girls so we can work.

-a mom who calls me out of the blue who asks if I need something from the store or to tell me she just bought me some clothes!

-a daddy who comes over after and long day of his own to help us renovate our house.

-a father-in-law who does the same.

-In-laws who go above and beyond to love us and be loving grandparents to our girls!

-friends who text me out of the blue to tell me they love me and see how I'm doing.

-And Most Importantly a SAVIOR who loves me and longs to spend time with me even though I am not worthy!!

These are just a few in my own life but the list is endless. God overwhelms me with His goodness and my prayer is to never continue through this life without realizing how blessed I am!

What are some of your greatest blessings?