The True Love Thread.

[graciesings]

Teenagers typically go through a series of crushes and infatuations over the years. That's normal, but one of the problems it causes is that we sometimes loose track of what love really is, in our quest for relationships.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV) says:

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

So, I thought it would be nice if we started a thread where we can all look for every-day examples of true love and share them here. That seems like a way that maybe we can lift each other up.

I'll start by posting a few of mine...

 

[graciesings]

So, two afternoons a week, I visit McDonalds after my PE class. I sometimes order food, but it's bad for me... so usually I order a large drink, and drink it full of water twice before filling it with soda. And I have Wi-Fi in my corner booth, so it's a nice arrangement.

There's one couple I've been watching. They always come in around 1 or 2 PM. They're in their 70s, I think, maybe early 80s. He is still fairly strong. He wears jeans, a button-down shirt, and a "USA" cap with a US Army pin on it. Same hat every day, without fail.

She is a small, shrunken old lady who can barely walk. She can't talk very well and she doesn't seem to remember things well. Every day he holds her up and walks her to the table. After he helps her into her chair he asks her if she wants coffee or Coke. She mumbles something, and he goes to order their drinks. They sit with their senior coffees or small cokes and discuss things. He tells her stories that I'm sure she's heard a million times, but forgotten. Some of the regulars there come up and tell him jokes. He then explains them to her, gently. He reminds her what Aggies are, where Oklahoma is, things like that.

I've been very impressed how gentle he is with her. This is a woman that can't give anything to him. She can't talk well, can't walk on her own, and can't care for him. Yet, he is focusing his entire life on caring for her. He sits across her and talks about whatever she mentions... he isn't scared to talk about her clothes or fingernail polish, if that's what she brings up. I almost cried earlier today when he was helping her wipe her face with a paper napkin. He shows so much love for her!

This world focuses on mutual giving in relationships. No, not mutual giving... mutual getting. People dump each other because the other person wasn't giving them enough love, attention, freedom, sex, money, time, etc. And he takes her out for coffee every day and helps her into her seat.

That's true love. Lasting love.

 

[graciesings]

 

[WithLoveFromAlyssa]

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1190977/thumbs/o-REDDIT-RANGERS-COUPLE-570.jpg?15

Id like to share this picture.

 

[graciesings]

Wow, Alyssa! That's awesome. 60 years... yeah, it takes a lot of love to put up with another human that long.