.l.o.v.e.

"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 records of wrongs.  love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth.  it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  love never fails." --- 1 corinthians 13:4-5

this is the kind of love that i seek to give others.  it is utterly and completely unselfish.  

this kind of love goes against our natural inclinations as humans.  this kind of love is so difficult to have in this world.  this kind of love is only possible to practice with the help of God to set aside our own desires and instincts, so that we can give love while expecting nothing in return.

"and now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  but the greatest of these is love." --- 1 corinthians 13:13

love is the greatest of all human qualities and is an attribute of God himself (1 john 4:8).  faith is the foundation and content of God's message; hope is the attitude and focus; and love is action.  when faith and hope are in line, you are then free to love completely because you understand how God loves.

i have to admit that my attitude and focus (my hope) have not been in line lately, and it has inhibited my ability to fully love.  because of my poor attitude and lack of focus, i have not been patient or kind; i have been rude and self-seeking; easily angered and lacking trust; i have kept records of wrongs done against me and at times didn't feel like persevering.  to those who have been affected by my lack of hope, i truly and sincerely apologize.

the thing about this love, God's love, is that it is unselfish and unconditional.  He doesn't only love us because he is expecting something in return, and we shouldn't love that way either.