THE ART OF LOVE
Love is kind. When you would rather respond in vengeance, but instead you decide to show kindness, this is an act of love.
Love does not envy, does not boast, is not proud. You make a choice to be content with what you have, to be thankful for others, and to look at yourself with sober judgment—love.
Love is not rude. When your first reaction is to be sarcastic and snarky, but you decide to lock up the lips, you have expressed love.
Love is not self-seeking. If you actually look out for the needs of others, not just your own, this is loving others.
Love is not easily angered. Ouch, that one hurt a little, didn’t it? It takes a decision to love to suppress the anger that rises so quickly to an unwelcome event or comment.
Love does not keep a record of wrongs. When you are in a disagreement, this is the decision not to bring up all of the past hurts or offenses the other person has done against you. Love is a continual choice to forgive.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Have you ever heard gossip that you know is not true? Love is when you choose to push away the lie and gossip to stand with the truth.
There are qualities of love that should always be present. If these qualities are not present in an action, a relationship, or a decision, then it is not love!
Love always protects.
Love always trusts.
Love always hopes.
Love always perseveres.
If you love someone, you choose to protect them; you choose to trust them; you choose to hope for the best; you choose to persevere through difficult challenges. If we put all of these into effect, we can always count on love. It will not fail us.
Now, how many of these are dependent on the recipient of your love? If you answered “none of them,” you would be correct. As much as you decide to show these qualities, others must also decide if they want to show them to you. However, you do not need them to be reciprocated to love someone. This means we can choose to love a complete stranger and provide a need for them. We can choose to love someone that has been rude to us.