What? Just me?
As Gary spoke, I was reminded of this truth from Emily's post just last week:
Jesus said, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." John 15:12-14
Jesus did just that. He laid down his life for his friends, for us . . . and that seems overwhelming and unattainable. How/when/could I ever lay down my life for anyone else? But Gary planted this thought: Perhaps the way that we lay down our lives for each other does not come in one great act. Maybe it comes in the daily grind, in the choices we make to work it out.
So, love is not soft. Love is hard. Love is fierce. Love is loyal. Love is work. Love is hanging on to each other. Love is this:
followed by a tantrum.
That is something to rest on, and aspire to, as mothers.
What do these verses say about love to you?
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Linking with:

Playdates at The Wellspring

God-Bumps and God-Incidences at Getting Down With Jesus



yes, in the daily grind. so true. and it IS fierce and loyal and tough many a time. but so worth the effort. so worth watching the fruit grow.
ReplyDeletegreat thoughts!
steph
Oh yes, so true. God is love, not me. I am so thankful, though, that I have his Spirit in me to produce this good fruit. Fully relying on him, that loves does grow. I can testify to that!
ReplyDeleteThe lack of the fruit of love makes our trees lopsided. All the others--joy, peace, patience...seem to hinge on loving. Of course we have the example of the greatest of love!
ReplyDeleteI love the quote! Great post.
ReplyDeleteSo know what you mean about love being hard work. It is hard. However, we are rewarded so much more for those things that we work for. Great post Courtney!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, my mommy heart needed to hear this today. Thank you.
ReplyDeletelove the quote from Emily...and how you describe love...yes it is not soft... great post...blessings~
ReplyDeleteLove is not perfect because love is not us. I love the way you describe love here. So glad I stopped by.
ReplyDeleteThis made me smile more than once :). Ah, the joys of the threes. It is so hard for me to realize how long ago that was! These babies grow and then we swap the tantrums for other worries :). Thank you for your kind words at the Wellspring this week. How you bless.
ReplyDeletePrecious. Smiling here. Yep, tantrums are a part of that love. Sometimes, my kids are throwing them, and sometimes, I am, too. :)
ReplyDeleteOh yes, me too. Sometimes I am the tantrum thrower.
ReplyDeleteLaura - Thanks for stopping by. I'm not ready for the other worries yet. Trying to enjoy the 3's (tantrums and all) as much as I can :)
ReplyDeleteAndrea - So glad it reached you at the right time then. Been thinking of you and hope all is well!
ReplyDeleteI've had my fill of tantrums today- at the school concert, in the park, on our way to the library... the list is endless! So glad for your reminder of what LOVE really is... God, plain and simple.
ReplyDelete