Love says, “Before you recount all the flaws of others, make sure you look in the mirror first and count all yours.”
Love is not blind, it sees more not less;
But because it sees more it chooses to see less.
—Author Unknown
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 NIV
Real love sees all the flaws of the one loved in all aspects of their true nature but chooses not to emphasize or bring attention to those flaws but promotes and acknowledges all that is positive. Real love is not vindictive, condescending, or critical but is protective, encouraging, and uplifting. Love should always be honest with compassion, respectful and helpful, and instructive in positive ways. Love doesn’t promote self at the expense of another, nor does it ever reveal personal intimacies for public consumption. Love is ever forgiving and, most importantly, forgetful of the wrongs received and the negatives displayed, and love refuses to continually bring to mind or voice those same issues. Real love never uses itself as leverage to gain something for self. Love is always understanding and never condemning. Love has enormous power to influence when used appropriately and has the unique ability to bring about the positive change that nothing else could do.
So I ask you, does this love describe your love? If you want to be loved like that, then you must first love like that. Rejoice in your ability to love and do not be sorrowful in what you receive. Love as if you’ve never been hurt, and love as if your next breath depended upon it.
[Excerpt from my book, Restore My Spirit, O God, p 70–71.]
You can read more about God’s love for us and our love for God and others in my books, Restore My Spirit, O God, pages 49–75 and Renew My Heart, O God, pages 53–84. For more on building strong relationships, see my Outline for Life—Soul, point 7, pages 8–10, downloadable on the Resources page of my website, JeffHoracek.com/resources.
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