Before All Else, Love is Patient

I love our mom bloggers in the High Calling network. In the Dailies is a great one. Spaghettipie is another. Don't miss either of those. And don't miss Ann Voskamp. Apparently Ann and her kids had some mishaps at the griddle recently while making pancakes. And she boldly writes that she is not lacking in passion or gentleness, put patience is hard. Patience can by hard for a mom. Or for a dad, I might add. I was a stay-at-home dad for a time. NOTHING has ever been more emotionally trying. Parents who care for children will admit that it is hard to stay patient. At least if they are honest, like Ann.

The text reads: Love is patient. Is there a reason why patience is the first qualifier in the biblical “love chapter” describing the characteristics of love? I wonder. Only because I am a mother who is long on love and, too often, short on patience. I mean, why not first, “Love is gentle,” or “Love is tender?” Or, better yet (to my feeble mind), “Love is a flash of divine revelation, a supernatural infusing of the spirit of God.” It is all that, yes. But first, of utmost importance, (I’ll trust the order of the inspired Word) love is patient. Nitty gritty. Hard. That is what I am thinking as we pour pancake batter into the griddle on a wintry morning....READ MORE