Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not
insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but
rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all
things. Love never ends. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
As the calendar flips yet again, love abounds this month – the stores are filled with
notions of red and pink, restaurants are taking reservations for ‘dinner for two,’ florist are
busy preparing all the flowers, and so on. Love is everywhere.
As I sat in the celebration of life service for Mary Love Bailey this past weekend, I
heard repeatedly how she not only carried the namesake ‘Love,’ but she exemplified what
that big word looked like in her daily life. Her actions of love and kindness had followed her
all the days of her life and now that same love and kindness lived on in her children,
grandchildren, and great grandchildren. What a beautiful and rich legacy she created to
fulfill her namesake.
Oftentimes we hear the scripture from 1 Corinthians read at a wedding and that is
where we associate it regarding romantic love but as it was shared by Mary Love’s great
granddaughters during her service, it led me to recognize how rich and vast this scripture is
in calling each and everyone to love in all our actions. Just as Paul was addressing the
church in Corinth, we as Christians in today’s church and world, have the opportunity to love
in all that we do and say.
Love is all around. As Christians living in today’s world, may we spread love and
kindness in the same way Jesus did so long ago. May we each find love, give love, receive
love, and spread love, today and in all our days ahead. May love be our legacy.
Peace and love,
Pastor Heidi