True Love

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. Love never fails.

I Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)

When I think of love, I remember the Bible scripture found in I Corinthians 13. It is a passage we hear quoted in weddings, preached in church, and written on Christian merchandise. The scripture is a beautiful depiction of God’s perfect love, but is it really something we can walk out as humans?

This past week, I saw a few examples of this kind of love in action.

The first was during a church gathering at a friend’s house. An 82-years-old gentleman came to assist the speaker for the evening. He was very quiet during most of the meeting, only interjecting a few comments to further illustrate some of the speaker’s points.

Toward the end of the evening, he began talking to a younger man about marriage. The gentleman and his wife had been married for over 60 years before she died. She was the love of his life.

I listened intently as he explained, to this man who had been married close to 10 years, the importance of making his wife a priority. The gentleman’s eyes twinkled when he mentioned the love he still had for her.

The second love lesson came while I was watching a couple I have known for most of my life. Over the years, I have watched as they cared for their children and elderly parents, dealt with devastating betrayals and personal losses, and persevered through financial and physical hardships. They embrace their differences and work through conflicts. Their marriage is the real deal.

This week, I watched them sacrifice together, each one giving up their comfort for the good of the other person. Real love requires sacrifice.

The last example was at a dying man’s bedside. I watched as the man’s significant other patiently observed him breathing in his sleep, hoping for a few more coherent moments with him. They only had a short time together as a couple, but she would have done it all over again if given the choice.

As his devoted children paced back and forth, caring for his needs and taking care of visitors, she sat at his bedside trying to alleviate his current discomfort. His medication was causing him to incessantly itch, so she spent close to 45 minutes scratching his feet and legs. This was not the first, nor the last time she would do this selfless act during his final days.

Thanks to the love of his family, this dying man’s last moments have been his best. He is leaving this world, bound for Heaven, forgiven and free.

Love never fails!