St. Valentine’s Day

In honor of Valentine’s Day and World Day of Marriage (on Sunday), I decided to contemplate this very famous verse from Paul’s 1^st Letter to the Corinthians. I’m sure you’ve heard it if you’ve ever attended a Christian wedding. It’s often one of the readings. And it’s easy to see why. It’s a beautiful bit of writing, poetic in nature. Someone told me once that they heard a minister replace the word “Love” every time it appears in this Scripture with the names of the bride and groom. I think it’s amazing. If you are married or engaged to be, I recommend doing that. Try reading it through once, aloud, with the name of your beloved. And then read it again with your own name. Or ask your spouse or intended to read it to you with your name in the place of “Love.”

And, if you are alone right now and your loved one is not present, why not try reading it through with the pronoun “I am” in place of “Love is,” and “I do not” instead of “Love does not” while thinking of the one you love. It’s very powerful, to me anyway. Give it a try. What have you got to lose? I’m going to try it now myself as my husband is away on business trip. 

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

“Love is patient, love is kind; love does not envy, love does not

boast, love is not proud. Love does not dishonor others, love is 

not self-seeking, love is not easily angered, love keeps no 

record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but

rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, 

Always hopes, always perseveres.

 

Love never fails.”

 

I am patient, I am kind; I do not envy, I do not boast, I am not proud.

I do not dishonor others, I am not self-seeking, I am not easily angered, I

keep no record of wrongs. I do not delight in evil but rejoice

with the truth. I always protect, always trust, always hope, always

persevere. 

I never fail.

 

If you don’t find that these words are true for you, I would say that these are words to aspire to, to work at making sure they are true.

And not just in your relationship with your spouse, but with your children or the ones 

you’ll have one day. And it’s a good message for life, with all your family 

members and with friends or even strangers. As Jesus says, everyone is our neighbor. 

Love never fails. Let’s never fail to love! Happy Valentine’s Day!