The morning started with an argument with my husband. I was hurt and didn’t feel like a priority. The feelings of negative self worth crept in and were confirmed by a day of temper tantrums at the store, to the point that I would cry at any small act of kindness. As the day wore on my tears turned to anger. The small irritating things my kids did added fuel and soon my anger boiled over, dropping like acid on my dear little ones. Showing impatience and spewing unkind words, I was not being the mature responsible adult.

My boys love music, a gift they inherited from their father. My baby (annoyingly) wanted the radio on so my eldest complied. The words floated over me and I allowed them to slowly find their way to my bruised heart.

Your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me.
Your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me.

And on and on and on it goes
Yes it overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I never, ever, have to be afraid
‘Cause this one thing remains

 Your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me.

Over and over the words played through my mind. God loves me, why can’t I love like he does? Today my love failed my husband and my kids, but I’m not giving up. God, how can I love like you do?

1 Corinthians 13:4-8  “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…”

To love this way overwhelms me and I fail at it constantly and consistently. But I decided to pick one aspect to focus on immediately. Love is kind. Be kind, I think I can do that. I started with my daughter. We cuddled together and cried over the difficult day, each sharing our own trials and I apologized.

As the day came to a close I realized the more I focused on just being kind the easier it was to be patient and less easily angered. I’m not perfect, but I can strive to be kind and maybe the other aspects will fall into place. I’ll keep you posted!

Prayer:
God, thank you for loving me without fail. Help me to love as you do, and hold me close as I struggle. Please help me to be kind and keep this desire at the forefront of my mind.