Practical Messages for Impractical Times
Popular and trending handmade dolls are crafted with partial faces, either the nose or the mouth is missing from what appears to be a completed project. What are the life experiences that would cause an artisan to create dolls without all of its facial features? Is this how the subsequent generations will view themselves? Are they remnants of the strong relationships that existed in the past? Fractured families and broken bonds permeate our society. We may live hundreds of miles away from our relatives or in close proximity, but fail to have loving relationships with one another.
The answer to strengthening our fragile state of existence is simple-we must learn to love others as God loves us. 1 Corinthians 13 provides the solution to healing the brokenness that many of us possess. Our talents, abilities and even our faith have little value unless we are able to love others. Love is the greatest gift that we have received from our Heavenly Father.
Thankfully we do not have the burden of defining the characteristics of love. God defined love when he created us in His image.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wrong. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT
“Three things will last forever–faith hope and love–and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
Prayer for Today: Dear God, Please teach me to love others that I may be healed of my brokenness. Amen.
Sonya Johnson Ruiz

