Love Is

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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. Love never fails. 1 Co 13

I've been meaning to put this up on my fridge now for a few months! I want to constantly be reminded to LOVE in all my relationships. I was just remembering today that this passage was read at my wedding. In those early years I never imagined how much these words would really need to be proclaimed. Now that we have children it is a whole new story! I love my kids very much. But at 2:30am when the 2 year old is crying and won't go to sleep and the baby is on the verge of being woken up, it's not easy to be patient, kind or not envy the people everywhere who are getting a good nights rest!

I realize God is the only one who can LOVE perfectly in the way Paul writes about. But through the spirit we too can bring real love into all our relationships. For the past 2 years I have been making this a priority raising my children. Now I want to know what this means for all my relationships. Sometimes it's not as easy as it might seem. Even with those closest to you. Hence the need for daily reminding!

So my main question is how to love my children as God loves them and in a way that reflects his love that they would grow to know God as all loving, all the time! This is a daily question I need to ask myself, I am sure it will help shape my parenting decisions as they come. As long as I don't act out in my frustration! I need to get a hold on that. Thinking back I know I could have been a lot more loving (ie. patient) with Grace early this morning. God help me show your love to Grace and Joy through my parenting. May your spirit guide me and prompt me to not act out of frustration but to LOVE.