Recently, someone on the writer’s forum I frequent posed the question, “What does love mean to you?” The responses highlighted many characteristics of love: it’s unconditional, it’s an action word, it’s loyalty and honor, love is a choice, etc.
One poster quoted my favorite definition from 1 Corinthians 13: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. – NIV
I thought about my boys and how easily and freely they love; especially the part about rejoicing with the truth. Yep, they’re brimming with honesty.
A while back as we sat down to eat dinner, Chuck looked at me then, turning to the boys said, “You know, I love your mother. Look at her. Isn’t she just beautiful, guys?”
Alex and Chris looked at me, then at each other, then Alex spoke up, “Well, I’m not trying to be mean, Dad. I’m sure she was beautiful when you met, and she’s still not bad, but she does have that bump here,” he illustrated by pointing to a spot on his own chin; “and there are those two kinda reddish spots up there on her cheek,” he added, examining my face for other imperfections, “I see a hair….”
“Oh, and those brown things on her neck!” said Chris.
Okay, so I guess the Bible never promises that love is blind, but I sure wouldn’t mind if it were mute.