Patient: Waiting without getting irritated in the car, waiting for family to get out of the house, when you told them an hour ago, it is time to go, etc.
Kind: Accepting and not getting angry when they eat your food off your plate, track dirt into the house, leave clothes on the floor, throw trash on the car floor, etc.
Envy: Watching “them” relax, watching “them” laugh with someone else, watching “them” scroll and text, and wishing “they” would spend time with you — etc.
Does not boast: Always reminding your family and friends how lucky they are to have you.
Is not proud: Insisting you are right, using the word “always,” not worried about others feelings and not wanting to compromise
Does not dishonor others: Talked badly about your others
Not self-seeking: Using the words “you always” followed by a negative or “I never.”
Not easily angered: Accepting responsibility when you hurt someone you love. Practice forgiveness for the little things that irritate you and smile a little more often
No record of wrongs: Did you bring up how you were hurt two months, two years, etc. ago and reminded them what they did?
Not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth: Doesn’t believe gossip, but looks for the good and looks to have a conversation with your valentine to find the truth.
Always protects: Does all you can so that they don’t get hurt.
Always trusts: Reliability, truth, ability and strength to always be there.
Always hopes: Planning future events together, etc.
Perseveres: Steadfast, reliable, always there, etc.
Never fails: Follow through on promises, let your yes be yes.
Loving can be a challenge. Spoiler alert: we will fail in loving others, the pure kind of love that is laid out in 1 Corinthians 13. However, there is good news – we can try anew every second, every minute, every hour, to ever day, every morning and begin again to love purely. So never give up on love.
Lamentations 3:22-23, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
• Maj. Gina Halverson is co-leader of The Salvation Army Juneau Corps. “Living and Growing” is a weekly column written by different authors and submitted by local clergy and spiritual leaders. It appears every Saturday on the Juneau Empire’s Faith page.
