Love is a lifetime of give and take, sacrificing to others and self sacrificing not self serving. It is not just loving those the people we like, but also loving those we do not want to, even if we disagree at times. Relationships take work and effort, not just words that say “I Love You”. However, I think many times listening can be more important than doing! I’ve always found listening to older couples who have been married 50+ years helps to gain wisdom on this journey when it comes to marriage. If your single, widowed, or divorced know that you are loved and some of you may even be more happier! I’ve come to realize I don’t know everything and I am still in this learning curve called love and relationships. Even when I think I’m right, my wife still lets me know that she loves me and she will have the last word! LOL HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! 
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice, but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT
Love is Patient In a world and culture of intolerance these days patience is not only a virtue , but one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). One of the graces of marriage or any relationship is to learn patience which comes with time. Too often we pray, Lord give me patience, but I need it now! We need to understand to have the ability to wait something out, or have the endurance to wait without flying off the handle. Learning to hear the other person out before arguing or interrupting, or waiting for an answer that is painstakingly slow. Have you ever tried to teach your teenager child to drive! This is one of many examples. Teaching my two teens how to drive made me more of a praying man and , I grew close to the Lord, because I thought I would die at every turn.
Love is Kind Kindness is another fruit of God’s Holy Spirit. Kindness is so needed today. Why is is that we are tempted to so eagerly lash out on the ones we love the most. Perhaps, it is because we think we can get away with it. When I think of Kindness I think of people who are friendly, considerate, or even generous. Someone who does or shows an act of doing good such as compassion without any ulterior motive.
Love is not boastful, jealous, proud or rude How often one brags about their title, or what they possess in one’s material possessions, or academia with grades and degrees. Love becomes more selfish when we focus on “I” rather than “YOU”, the other person. There is nothing wrong with achievements or accomplishments in life but when it consumes the “Me” , it just stinks with pride and arrogance. Most people see it, except the person doing the boasting. Jealousy and envy are like twin cousins appearing to put others down, gossiping, belittling, manipulating the argument or the people they work with or grow up with. Remember, life is not always fair and people get used and abused, stepped on and over in many areas of life at every stage.
Love keeps no records of being wronged. When our lives are violated or have been taken advantage of it is never easy to forgive or turn the other cheek. Forgiveness is not as easy as Jesus saying, “forgive and you shall be forgive.” When a person is violated the trust factor is broken. A marriage invaded by an affair, divorce, one who is overlooked for a promotion, a loved one or child cleans out and steals the parents or siblings savings accounts due to an addiction such as drugs or gambling. A young person is sexually abused or violated… You get the picture. the list is endless. I cannot do justice on this topic here, but in future devotions I will make an attempt. Does and can God forgive ? Yes. There are times in our own reasoning and strength we cannot forgive, but with the help of God’s powerful love and forgiveness , He helps us to forgive and release the other person or offender into the Lord’s hands. “Forgive and you shall be forgiven. ” Remember, it takes a lifetime to build and establish trust but only minute to destroy it!
Friend, even in your most difficult struggles and trying to release the offender, the violation, and pain into the Lord’s hands, be patient and continue to try to let it go. Remember, Love is patient. The world says, “Don’t get mad but get even”. God says, do it my way and allow me to have the final say, for justice is mine.
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God for God is love” 1 John 4:7-8
“God demonstrates his love in that while we were yet, sinners, Christ dies for us” (God showed us His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation). Romans 5:8-9
For God so loved the world that He gave…
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
Love is a lifestyle and pattern of give and take in our dog eat dog world. It takes courage to forgive, even though at times we may not forget. When forgiveness takes place, healing begins to occur in our hearts, lives, homes, because love is unconditional , but also action. It does not mean that you are a doormat and can always be stepped on. Besides, life, love, living is not a sprint, but a marathon of growth, to draw closer to the Savior and his name is Jesus Christ. God’s one and only son.
The Watering Hole Journey 