Love Is . . . Is It?

I recently came across this lesson I created for a Sunday school class I taught when my two youngest were in third and fourth grade. I gave a copy to each of my students and asked they put their name on the first line and, after consideration, place the name of a person that presented them with a challenge, on one level or another, on the second line.

​One child angrily refused to participate as he was so upset with his offender. I appreciated his honesty, his struggle, for I admit, I too find this exercise in love most difficult. But, though I have not always lived up to a "love" that went beyond what felt right to me, my heart's aspiration is to attain love's heights.

I believe a couple of the difficulties presented in loving as instructed in 1 Corinthians 13 is that we do not understand our own unique value nor the necessity for appropriate, healthy boundaries in relationships. When reading this definition of love, often we infer boundaries are nonexistent. However, if we look at his life, Jesus clearly understood his identity, his direction and goals and his boundaries. Boundaries enabled Jesus to stay his course and to remain in a state of love toward others, even those who aggressively opposed him.

Embracing our identity, our worth in who Christ states that we are, as well as, employing respectful boundaries enables our hearts to reach out beyond the feelings that others may incite with a commitment that looks to their best interest. Love perseveres even when confronting issues that work to divide. Love looks to the good of another even while drawing lines in the sand. Love is powerful. Love is not a pushover; it does not concede in the face of an adversarial perspective. Love heals to the very core of a matter. Love maintains vision. Love motivates to action.