We all know the passage of 1 Corinthians 13.

 Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

But i’ll be the first to admit that it was impossible for me to do any of these things in the past. In my prayer time i asked the lord how do i take this passage from his word and anchor it right here on earth? Here are a few things i have learned through alot of heart ache and trial and error. I had to really dig deep and ask myself questions. How do i see myself? Do i love me? Do i see and celebrate my worth, my value, and my beauty as a divine expression of life? Love is what i came into this life to give. Not to just my mate but to show love to everyone. Treat everyone, regardless of who they are, what they do or how they do it, the same way i treat myself. ( i have to love myself to extend love to those around me.)  I went through a year or so of a heart transplant. Thats the only way for me to describe it. God healed my heart. I prayed so long for him to help me in this area of my heart and when he did it was undescrible.  I had revelation of God’s amazing Love for me and it transformed me.  I had the desire within me suddenly to speak to people in a way that would open their hearts, allowing them to feel welcomed and worthy.  Forgiveness flowed from my every pore.  I wanted those i had hurt to experience this outpouring.  I don’t understand why it happened at the time it did; but i know God’s timing is always perfect.

I can now say that love to me is cooperative, harmonizing, accepting, forgiving, an essence of the soul. Love does not give up. Love does not demand what it does not have. Love does not force itself on others in order to feel better about itself. Love does not attack to avenge itself. Love does not withhold itself.  When we learn to see ourselves as love and to be present with others in loving ways, love will be our anchor! Steady and strong! 

I remember when i was 18 and my grandpa ask me, “Emilie what is love“? I was so shy back then. I said , “ummmmm……i don’t know.”  He said, ” then how can you know if your in love if you don’t know what it is”.  Well grandpa you would be proud. It took me 20 more years after that conversation to really figure out the answer.  He was such a wise man. I miss him. He passed away when i was 20. 

1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1 John 3:18
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Colossians 3:14
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

1 Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Christian