The power of love
Sometimes my girls love to push each other’s buttons. They know just what to say or do to upset the other. Although that can frustrate me to no end, what always happens next is what reminds me of the awesome power of love. The girls always come back to each other and regardless of the hurt or how upset they may have been, they find a way to heal their wounds and still come back to love.
So many times in life I have felt the same level of disappointment or hurt. Let’s be honest, the ones that can hurt us the most are the ones that are closest to us. It cuts much deeper than a harsh word from a stranger or a betrayal from an acquaintance. How do we move forward from these moments to find a way to come back to 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 never fails” (1 Corinthians, 13:4-8, NIV). There are so many truths in these verses, true love is not about envy or jealousy, it is not a competition or a sense of pride. Love is not about lowering others for your own satisfaction. It does not push you to the opposite emotion nor keeping score to identify who is better than another. Love is enduring, it leads with kindness and patience. It never forgets that we all have moments and bad days and times when we say or do things we may regret but the enduring love never leaves, regardless of those actions or words.
I remember sharing with someone recently that I used to think that people saw unconditional love as a weakness. I thought people would see it as not standing up for oneself or not fighting for the win. The fact is, love is the greatest strength. When I see my girls arguing or battling, I am always lifted when I see the power of their love overcome anything said or done.
Today, I pray that you remind yourself of the power of love-it can overcome all things. I pray that even in the fighting or arguing, that you do not let it rob you of what matters most, love. I pray that you find a way to focus on love and be patient and kind, even when it may feel like the odds are against you and the battle swords have been drawn. There is no greater power than the power of love.
