I just celebrated my one year wedding anniversary! We had so much fun in a drive through wedding chapel in Vegas wearing matching shirts and sitting in the car. And we kept it a secret.
A month later we had a beautiful ceremony at sunset in our backyard with our handwritten vows and a section out of my Bible that we had begun to memorize. And though these verses have been said so many times at so many events, today I want you to take in this version with a fresh set of eyes.
“Love suffers long. Having patience with imperfect people.
Love is kind. Active in doing good.
Love does not envy. It actually wants other people to get ahead.
Hence it does not parade itself. Love has a self-effacing quality.
Love is not puffed up. Treating others arrogantly.
It does not behave rudely, but displays good manners and courtesy.
Love does not seek its own, insisting on its own rights and demanding precedence. Rather it is unselfish.
Love is not provoked. It is not irritable or touchy, rough or hostile, but is graceful under pressure.
Love thinks no evil. It does not keep an account of wrongs done to it, instead, it erases resentments.
Love does not rejoice in iniquity, finding satisfaction in the shortcomings of others and spreading an evil report.
Rather, it rejoices in the truth, aggressively advertising the good.
Love bears all things defending and holding others up.
Love believes the best about others. Credits them with good intentions and is not suspicious.
Love hopes all things. Never giving up on people, but affirming their future.
Love endures all things. Persevering and remaining loyal to the end.
Love never fails.”
(Adapted from my Bible in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
And here is what I know as we just said these words again at our one year vow renewal:
Love is a lot of things I am not.
Love is everything God is.
But…Love is something I can strive for every single day in every single way.
Because…Love Never Fails.