If I decorate my house perfectly with
beautiful furniture, capeting, and drapes,
but do not show love to
family and friends, I'm just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking
dozens of cookies, preparing gourmet meals
and arranging a beautifully
adorned table at mealtime, but do not
show love to family and friends, I'm
just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, sing in
the nursing home and give all that
I have to charity, but do not show
love to family and friends, it profits
me nothing.
If I hurry about tending to all of life's niceties
but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss
the spouse.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love doesn't envy another's home that
has coordinated china and table
linens.
Love doesn't yell at the kids to get
out of the way.
Love doesn't give only to those who are
able to give in return but rejoices in
giving to those who can't.
Love bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails. Video games will break,
pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs
will rust.
But giving the gift of LOVE will endure.