“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” I Corinthians 13:1-8
A little over twenty years ago we were in the middle of constructing our current home. Without fail, we visited the site daily to see the progress that had been made.
One particular day, our daughter, Shelly, and her three older children were with us at the house. It was on that day that Heather, Justin, and Jacob asked permission to sign and date a corner post located in the hallway. Several days later, our granddaughter, Felicia also signed and dated the same post. As the house was completed, the walls covered that special place, but I’ll always be reminded of the signatures and message of love behind the wall.
A few years after we had moved into the house, a dear friend gave us a beautiful cross based on I Corinthians 13:8, “Love never fails.” Right away, I knew the perfect place to hang it was on the wall at the exact spot where the grandchildren had signed the post.
This morning as I was reliving this memory, I thought of an application that could be used intentionally by each of us not only today but every day while we are here on Earth. Wherever we go, whatever we are doing, whatever our circumstances, let’s not hide our love and kindness to others behind the walls of our hearts. Sometimes it’s easy and more comfortable to settle into the safety of our own lives. But I also know that everyone we meet is fighting some kind of battle. It might be physical, emotional, spiritual, all three, or a combination of the three. Rest assured that you can make a difference. A smile. A hug. A kind word. Little acts of kindness on your part is often a big deal to others.
And remember, there is much love behind the Cross. For you, and them. As the verse of scripture says, “Love never fails.”
I’m so thankful for these grandchildren who long ago expressed their love for us in a unique and lasting way. And I’m thankful for God’s everlasting love. It is the difference between joy and sorrow, hope and despair, faith and fear. This is the Good News I’m taking into my day. I hope you all will do the same.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father. Thank You for loving us in such a way as no one else can. We praise You for that never-ending love given to us through our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. You loved mankind, your creation, so much that You sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. We cannot comprehend such love but we receive it with thankfulness and humility. Help us to love others as we seek to shine Your light on those we encounter in our daily walk of life. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
