From First Corinthians Chapter Thirteen:

1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

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.

Love is Patient

A love that is patient is one that can bear offense, illness, loss, and even infidelity. When paired with the virtue of patience, love truly can conquer all. All you need is not love. True love is patient. For a relationship to survive the greatest challenges of this world, patience is a much-needed ally.

Love is Kind

Kindness is the manner in which we treat others. We can treat people, places, and things with kindness. We can be kind to our mother earth by recycling, planting trees, fighting for land reclamation, and against deforestation. We can be respectful of our homes and those of others by gestures such as removing our shoes and treating personal property with respect. And we can treat people with kindness by freely giving them our patience, compassion, and understanding.

Love does not Boast – Love is not Envious or Proud

This is not to say that love is secretive, but love does not boast and love is not proud. To boast is to demonstrate excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one’s achievements, possessions, or abilities. To be proud means a to have a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired. Love is not a thing to be possessed or traded. Love is not an achievement. It is a thing to treasure, respect, and to protect.

To be continued…