Love Is Patient

LOVE IS PATIENT

Begin by quieting your body and mind, remembering you are in God’s loving presence. Open your hands to reflect with your body your desire for a heart that’s open to whatever he has for you today. Spend a minute in silence.

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

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.

Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!

Love bears with flaws, shortcomings, and weaknesses.

Love abides amidst annoyance and provocation.

Love is not irritable and short tempered.

Love is long-suffering, forgiving, and forbearing.

• Spend a few moments in silence, reflecting on the truth that love bears with flaws, shortcomings, and weaknesses. In whom have you seen this kind of love? Where do you see it in your own life?
• Where do you see the patience of love reflected in Jesus’ life?
• Sit quietly and ask God to speak what’s true of your heart when it comes to patience in your relationships. What did he show you? How is he inviting you to extend that patience?

Father, you are love. Jesus, you are love. Holy Spirit, you are love.

Shape me into the image of love, and lead me in the way of love. Amen.