WEOURSTORY with Monica Rodriguez

Love is… HARD!

Let’s read it together slowly… 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

“Love is patient, love is kind.” Pause. How patient am I? Does grace come easy for me?

“Love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” Pause. And, pause a little longer. How often do my eyes roll? Am I a eye roller?! I think some friends and I decided we would start a #FixYourFace women’s ministry. I really should follow up on that.

“Love does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking.” Pause. Do I jump on the phone before going to the thrown? Sigh.

“Love is not easily angered.” Need I say anything more? So guilty.

“Love keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves. Love never fails…”

Love, written in tiny letters on thin pieces of paper from the Word of God seem hard. Really hard. Oh, but friend; it isn’t impossible.

“Love, when it’s forced really isn’t love at all.” Some girlfriends and I replayed similar words from the movie “The Heart of Man” just so that we can jot down the very words that seemed to have wrecked our hearts, in a manner only God can do.

Love is a lot of things. What it isn’t is impossible. The incarnation of Christ Himself is Love.

I read the verse again. This time, a little different.

“Jesus is patient, He is kind. He doesn’t envy, He doesn’t boast. Jesus isn’t proud. Jesus doesn’t dishonor others, and He isn’t self seeking. Jesus isn’t easily angered and He keeps no record of wrongs. He doesn’t delight in evil and rejoices in truth. Jesus protects, always trusts, always hopes and always preserves. Jesus never fails.”

This is love.

We sometimes have such a hard time managing love because we expect perfection from those who say they love us with their lips but fail (as humans do) with their actions. We are all guilty.

If Jesus is Love and all that I read in the love chapter of the Bible describes all He is and able to do, then I want to love too. Because if Jesus found me worth dying for because of Love (John 3:16) the least I can do in gratitude is give my all by how I love also.

Even and especially when it’s hard.

Happy month of love, friends!

Love hard; love unconditionally. It’s worth it because you're worth it.

– Better together,

Mónica

Monica leads ReDefined Table, a movement postured to empower and encourage women to reach their full potential. Follow Monica on her social media platforms @daywithmonica and @ReDefinedTable or visit her website at redefinedtable.com

LOVE IS...

This is love.