Paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13
Though I may be educated and knowledgeable about today’s world, And can speak with authority on many subjects, Unless I can show forth God’s love in my heart, life and actions, I become as clattering dishes or the steady drip of a leaky faucet. And though I have the knack for planning ahead, and the ability to keep up with the busy schedules of all the people in my household; and know all the little things that my family expects me to do to keep them healthy and happy; and though I manage to find solutions to most of their numerous and diversified problems, if I fail to respond, not only as a wife and mother, but as a Christian, to my family’s needs, and do not show Christian love and concern in that response, I am nothing.
And though I donate food and clothing to the poor and needy, and sacrifice my time for the thousand and one things my church expects me to do;
If I don’t have a loving and generous spirit,
I won’t receive much personal pleasure from my efforts
Love puts up with bothersome details and still manages to be patient; Love put kindness in place of sarcasm;
Love takes care of my envious nature and helps me to take pride in the accomplishments of my friends, neighbours and spouse;
Love keeps me from feeling superior to those less fortunate than I, or those who l have not been blessed with opportunities like mine. Love helps me to remember that I am being watched,
as a Christian and as a woman, and I must strive to set a good example. Love helps me to consider the feeling of others, to control my temper, and to search out only the good in others.
Love helps me to turn my back on gossip,
and keeps me from repeating stories I hear that may be damaging to others.
Love helps me to seek the truth in any all situations
and to strive to be fair-minded in my opinions.
Love is my strength, my faith, my hope, and my courage. Love will never fail.
Traditions and people may not always be trustworthy;
there will be times when I will be faced with doubt and indecision.
For now I am only a human being, filled to the brim with human faults and failings…I am sometimes confused because of the circumstances of my life, but I know that someday my heavenly Father will explain all the reasons for it, and I will understand.
Until that day I am blessed with faith, hope and love, three of God’s greatest gifts, but the greatest of these is Love.
“Serving in His Strength” is a blog
published by the Member Development Committee of
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League–Canada, Inc.
Lutheranwomen.ca
2025