Loving People Isn't EasySample

Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.

It is fiercely defensive of its tribe.
Like a lioness defends her cubs, love is intensely protective of those it cares about.
Love always stands up for people when they are being attacked and talks highly of them when they are not around.
It has people’s backs and creates a safe space for people to be themselves.

Love doesn’t have trust issues.
It assumes the best in any situation and has deep faith in the goodness of others.
It truly believes that people can change.
It hopes for the best to happen and really roots for others.

It keeps on keeping on.
When the going gets tough, love gets going.
It can stick with something and see it through to completion.
It’s got steely-eyed determination when it comes to commitment.
It is dependable and someone you can lean on.
It doesn’t scare easily or give up too soon.
It lasts long, really long.

Love doesn’t fade over time; it doesn’t dwindle or slowly run out.
Love only grows stronger with time.

When there’s an acute need for people who are reliable, optimistic, and committed, love stands out as trustworthy, hopeful, steadfast, faithful, unswerving, and strong.

Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.

Love never fails.

A few self-reflection questions:

1. Are you super protective of others - their reputations and their needs?
2. Do you trust easily, or are you someone who is always suspicious of people's motives?
3. Do you choose to hope in dire situations and in people around you that others might have given up on?
4. Are you someone who is known to "persevere" and "press on" even in challenging situations?

Journalling Prompt:

Get your journal out and write down the phrase “­­_______ always PROTECTS, always TRUSTS, always HOPES and always PERSEVERES. ­­_______ never fails” (insert your name in the blank space). Now, use your creativity through words, art, painting, doodling, or whatever your creative expression is to bring this page alive intentionally – in a way that you’d remember to protect, trust, hope, and persevere like 1 Cor 13 expects us to.