The Capacity To Love

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. 

Love
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.   Full, Mature, Whole, Strong, Enduring  LOVE

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love.

Oh, Lord, would you increase our capacity to....

Love YOU

Love our FAMILY

and love OTHERS

sincerely, deeply, genuinely

for real.