1 Corinthians 13

If I never get the opportunity to be a martyr, if I live a long and happy life in a comfortable and safe home, that doesn't make me a failure. Because I have God's love, and that is my identity.
If I never become well known for my spiritual insights, if I am not lauded for influencing millions, that's okay. Because loving God and loving others is just as important in the quiet as in the limelight.
If I don't see miraculous healing and inexplicable wonders after I  pray, I'm not less of a Christian. Because God loves me from His own goodness, not my performance.

To perform a single action because love could no longer be contained inside is worlds better than a million actions performed out of duty.

Because love...

Well, love has a good attitude even when there's no guarantee someone will change.
Love isn't always assuming the grass is greener on the other side; but she also doesn't crow about it when the grass is greener on her side.
Love isn't so concerned with appearances that she reveals uncomfortable truths in front of others just to save face.
You can't rile love up by snide remarks and petty insults, she's not looking for a fight. And at the end of the day, she wipes the slate clean - no ammunition for tomorrow's disagreements.
Love doesn't enjoy the pain of others, and neither is she looking for easier ways to just avoid the issue. No, love wants to get to the heart of the matter so we can be whole instead of bandaged but bleeding.
Love listens when someone is hurting, takes the time to put aside quick assumptions and truly hear; is always in your corner, confident that you'll succeed, not even giving the time of day to disillusionment and unmet expectations; and never turns the cold shoulder, no matter how tempting it is to run away emotionally.

Love is in this for the beautiful long haul.

Everything else is just a piece of the picture. Love is everything from the canvas to the artist's hand.

Essentially, love is about growing up. And as I get older, I'm finally realizing that it knits everything together, from our first infant steps to our dying breath.
I don't fully understand it yet, but I'm beginning to get little glimpses.

Faith gives me eyes.
Hope keeps me standing.
But love... must be described with more than words.

~ A personal reflection on 1 Corinthians 13