“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 John 4:11).

        We must not think of love as an uncontrollable, unpredictable emotion. We are commanded to love, and this would be quite impossible if love were some elusive, sporadic sensation, coming as unaccountably as a common cold. Love does involve the emotions but it is more a matter of the will than of the emotions.

        We must also guard against the notion that love is confined to a world of dream castles with little relation to the nitty-gritty of everyday life. For every hour of moonlight and roses, there are weeks of mops and dirty dishes.

        In other words, love is intensely practical. For instance, when a plate of bananas is passed at the table and one has black spots, love takes that one. Love cleans the wash basin and bathtub after using them. Love replaces paper towels when the supply is gone so that the next person will not be inconvenienced. Love puts out the lights when they are not in use. It picks up the crumpled Kleenex instead of walking over it. It replaces the gas and oil after using a borrowed car. Love empties the garbage without being asked. It does not keep people waiting. It serves others before self. It takes a squalling baby out so as not to disturb the meeting. Love speaks loudly so that the deaf can hear. And love works in order to have the means to share with others.

        (From One Day at a Time, January 26, Gospel Folio Press, Grand Rapids, Michigan; used by permission.)

 

        “Speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15).

        It is no mean victory over oneself to have learned to open our lips only for the good of others. It costs much to withhold that which, while it may be pleasing to ourselves, is unprofitable, or worse, to others. Oh for more in us of the love that does no harm to the neighbor, but only good!

        Nor does this mean that our words must be of the sort that pleases everybody. Far be it from us to seek to be men-pleasers. This is not love. But it is love, whatever the words may have to be, when the burden of the heart is the blessing of our fellows. Scripture uses strong words sometimes, but its mind is ever the good of the hearers.

                (From Help and Food, Vol. 24.)