Love never fails. It is one of the most simple and profound truths of life. Love existed before man and it will continue to exist after the earth has passed away. Of course this is God’s Love. Eternal and unchanging just like He is. This Love that never fails is free of human imperfections and cannot be corrupted, twisted or manipulated for personal gain. It is however, the foundation and framework God establishes all of our relationships in, especially family.

We use 1 Corinthians 13 in a lot in wedding invitations, showers and presents and I cannot fathom a more appropriate place for it, but it should not be relegated only to that place. In truth, it really should be a gift given at all baby showers and births because Love is the ultimate foundation for parenthood and family.

My husband and I have five amazing kids that span a total of 3 years. God rocked our worlds as He baptized us into parenthood. It is a refining fire. Reading 1 Corinthians 13 never fails to bring their faces to mind as I fix my mind on these verses. Not only because I struggle to put aside my own selfishness (yes, I did just scream at my kids while writing these very words), but because as their mom I am called to walk them through the process of setting their own selfish pursuits aside and learning to live this Love as well. Family is where we learn to love as God loves us: “while we were yet sinners.”

This is the Love we celebrate on Valentine’s Day! Here is a day to celebrate the enduring love of God.

Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 and pray Romans 5:8.

Romans 5:8

Father, help me love my family as you have loved us: “in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Teach this family to love each other through our brokenness and imperfection.