Progress, Not Perfection

Happy Valentine's Day,

Almost every wedding I have ever gone to, mine included, someone read that well-known, familiar passage from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, boastful, 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 and never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance...love will last forever!"

Isn't love romantic?

Isn't love goose bumps provoking?

Isn't love HARD!?! 

Truly loving someone like the Bible defines it requires a lot of self-sacrifice.  

But I am reminded of something one of my Bible teachers said, "Progress, not perfection, is key."

Thank God!  I bet most of us haven't always loved perfectly, but I also bet most of us have made progress over the years. As I read the verses above, I cringe at some of the ways I acted as a 21-year-old immature bride and young mother. But as I re-read them I also marvel at how I have changed over the last thirty years.  My greatest area of growth has been in the keeping-my-mouth-shut department unless I had something kind to say.    

How have you grown? In what areas could you use improvement?

As we think of the people God has placed in our life to love, let's stay committed to loving them better and better. God is committed to helping us.

PRAYER:  Dear Lord, Thank You for love.  You are the Creator of love and the Definition of love.  You would never ask us to live up to Your standard of love if it were impossible or if it weren't the best way to live a blessed life.  Help us to love more and to love better. Empower us to be more patient, kinder, more forgiving and giving.  Help us to keep disappointments buried and keep the faith no matter what.  Thank You that love is so powerful it lasts forever! In Jesus' name, AMEN.