to those who love

To the youth leaders and childcare workers I’ve witnessed over the years (and who have taken care of me) who handle it all with grace—

Love is patient 

To the cashier at Walmart who smiles at me and the lady at church who always calls me by name—

Love is kind

To those who rejoiced for me when exciting things were happening to me and hard things to them—

It does not envy

To the athletes, actors, and artists who inspired me and convicted me with their humility and glorification of God—

It does not boast

To the dad who does so much and has accomplished so much and yet fixes sinks and gives baths and watches Disney and washes our feet—

It is not proud

To the grandparents who brought up my parents so well and taught me to live nobly, who treat everyone with respect—

It does not dishonor others

To the mom who gives of herself every day for me and our family in a thousand ways, most of which I’ll never see—

It is not self-seeking

To the neighbors and acquaintances and countless others whom I’ve offended who still found the strength to be gracious—

It is not easily-angered

To the brothers who have seen the worst sides of me and yet still love me and don’t hold it against me—

It keeps no record of wrongs

To the pastors who have taught me truth and preached it with a passion, lighting up this vast darkness with the light of the Word—

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth

To the members of the military, policemen, firemen, National Guard, and all others who keep us safe—

It always protects

To the little sisters who always look at me with confidence and don’t fear the days ahead—

Always trusts

To the friends who dream with me and keep believing in the impossible—

Always hopes

To the long-time friends who’ve stayed with me despite the years and the far-away friends despite the miles—

Always perseveres

To the God who keeps forgiving me through all my failures—

Love never fails 

Thank you for loving me. Some of you have never met me; some of you didn’t realize you were being watched. Sometimes, I complain about humanity, and all the time, we all struggle with people and relationships and sin. But today I’d just like to recognize the fact that God knew what He was doing when He placed each of you in my life, and I’d like to thank Him and you for this crazy love.

Without it, we are nothing.

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

~ 1 Cor. 13:1-3 (4-8a in italics in the rest of the post)