Love like this

Not long ago, I was having an email conversation with a friend who was going through some heart ache. My friend told me her story then asked for my thoughts, but not before she apologized for whining.

“You’re not whining,” I said. “You’re hurting out loud. You have to listen to your heart on whether or not you want to continue on if this other person finishes their lesson. Listen within to what your spirit tells you is good for you, don’t listen to your desires. Listen to what will be Good For Your Soul.”

My friend always has tremendous compliments about my writing. And after reading my response to her dilemma, she urged me to share what I wrote pointing out that my words were insightful and that I had incredible talent. She oftens tells me things to that effect and even urged me to write a book, something I really have no desire to do. I suppose any intellect or writing ability I have is wasted on me. It hasn’t really brought me joy or benefitted me or anyone else, save a few employers. I sometimes feel bad because I don’t cherish this gift, maybe because it comes so easily to me or maybe because nothing lasts forever, ashes to ashes, even mountains wear away… I’ve never really been able to put it into words well, but I’ve tried to explain it in many different ways. This was my exact response:

“As far as my talent, it’s only talent. It’s like brains, they’re only intellect. And like beauty, it’s only beauty. What matters is the heart, love is what lasts. Talent, intellect, beauty; those things of the body and brain all fade. Love is the only thing that ever lasts.”

For my next explanation, I sent her something I read as poetry, perhaps you’ll recognize it, the original is below the version I created. 

My dearest friend, the real question is how do we get to be filled with Love like this:

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.

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.

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.

Love is patient,
love is kind.
It does not envy,
it does not boast,
it is not proud.

It does not dishonor others,
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.

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.
For we know in part
and we prophesy in part,
but when completeness comes,
what is in part disappears.

When I was a child, I talked like a child,
I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.
When I became a man,
I put the ways of childhood behind me.

For now we see only
a reflection
as in a mirror;
then we shall see
face to face.
Now I know in part;
then I shall know
fully,
even as I am
fully known.

And now these
three remain:
faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these
is love.

At some point, most recognize the above passage as being Bible scripture. Often when I read scripture that’s how it sounds in my head. It’s as if I am reading poetry and must pause in certain places. I broke it up as poetry last year when another friend asked me questions about love. At that point,  I’d run out of ways to explain what I felt love was and decided to go to a better source….

Family, friends, lovers, and pets. Love is always a puzzle, but what else feels as powerful or as good?

(below is the original verse)

1 Corinthians 13
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. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

6 Comments

Filed under Destiny, Growth, Healing, Heart, Inspirational, Life Lessons, Love, relationships

6 Responses to Love like this

  1. suzanne smith

    Love is so great. Even above faith and hope. You have an optimistic spirit and I honor that. It is good to be inspiring to others and to yourself. Thank you for helping me to think UP.

    • Hayley Rose

      This is one of my favorite posts of yours that Ive read and it is so beautiful. May we all be filled with love like that…

      • L'Heure Bleue

        Hayley, I’m glad you published it, that passage is precious to me. I’ve been very blue lately so today was a good day for me to read it.

        May we all be filled with love like that. May it be so…

    • L'Heure Bleue

      Suzanne, even in the darkest loneliest times memories of love and loving can inspire us. I read the bible and other spiritual and non-spiritual teachings to find the uplifting messages not the dark ones.

  2. Linda Seccaspina

    Doris, you tell it like it is.. your words are full of poetry and love.
    I swear if anyone hurts you again I will have to come after them with a stick.:)

    HUGGGGGGGGGG

    • L'Heure Bleue

      Linda, lessons I was slow to learn I will not easily let go of. Better you should just come after me with a hug and remind me of love like that.