Why Didn't I Think of That? by Glynis M. Belec

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal...

So what You are saying, Lord, is that you are not interested in my highfalutin fancy speaking ways?  All that does is draw attention to me and takes the glory away from You? What a dope I am. All I have to do is be still and think. I have to stop looking in the mirror less and start looking at Your Word more. Laying a foundation of love is the beginning. It creates harmony and dulls the clanging. Why didn't I think of that? 

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 

I thought if I studied hard and learned all about the cool stuff, helped crack the code on the mysteries of the faith and showed everyone how brilliant my faith is, then You would like that. But You say - no. You would rather I appreciate, emulate and disseminate the love you have placed in my heart. So in other words, God, You are telling me to stop talking about it and go help my neighbour? Why didn't I think of that?

If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

So downsizing, getting rid of all my dust collectors and going on mission trips because I think it is a good thing to do is not gonna' get me any brownie points, You say, God? I can talk a good talk and impress everyone with my great sacrifices all I want, but really, it's all about the motivation of my heart. Is it about me or is it about Thee? Thanks for making me think, Lord.

Love is patient; 

Forgive me for the last time I prayed in earnest about that article getting accepted and then was slightly ticked off because I didn't get my way.

Love is kind; 

So what if I was going to be thrown off my precious schedule? I should have stopped in that day to see her. I tried to justify my unkind behaviour. But You reminded me.

Love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 

Why do I feel the need to tell someone that I 'did good.' The main thing is that You know that I 'did good.' If I am bragging, I'm not loving anyone else except myself and that isn't what You've been teaching me lately, is it, Lord? I'm a slow learner, but I am starting to get it. 

It does not insist on its own way; 

I'm starting to see why you don't always answer my prayers in the way I initially thought that You should answer them. I'm trying to get my head around that. 

It [love] is not irritable or resentful;

Lord that is a tough one especially when I see other Christians getting a better deal than You give me. Or when I see fellow writers getting a break and I don't. I want to write full time but there are obstacles. I sometimes get grumpy because I want something different.  I'm working on that, too, Lord. 

It [love] does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 

No matter what the world says, I need to test it all with Your amazing Word. That's where I will find the truth. Love grows when I speak truth. That cliché, 'love will set you free' is actually pretty wise when I think about what it means to be free in Christ. 

It [love] bears all things, 

When I was sick I thought I couldn't make it - then you sent all sorts of people to love on me. I made it. 

[Love] believes all things, 

This doesn't mean I need to be a sucker for false preachers or prowling lions. right, God? I believe because I have faith. I believe in You, God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in You, Jesus Christ. You were conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

[Love] hopes all things, 

I find that when that man you blessed me with almost 36 years ago, and I talk civilly and respectfully to one another our hope meters coordinate. Because we hope together; because we love each other; because we remember that Your love is what has kept our heads above water - hope floats. 

[Love] endures all things.

Remember those times I wanted to give up? Your promise to never leave me nor forsake me helped me to endure.  I was thankful for the kindness of some very good friends. Through them, You pressed upon my heart to find ways to pay it forward. So I did and again, it took the focus of me, and made me wish I would have thought of that idea. It's priceless - just like your enduring love for me! 

Love never ends.

Sometimes people call me a drama queen. I've been accused of being like the Energizer Bunny who keeps going and going and going. But I'm noticing lately that my body can't do the things my brain would like it to do - the mind is willing but the flesh is weak? My life is going to end one day - did I mention, Lord, that I am in no hurry for that to happen, but the good thing is, I know you love will never run out of batteries. 

But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.

My chatter will one day cease. But your love for me will not. That gives me a good reason to rise and shine each morning. 

 And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three

When I get up tomorrow morning, I'm going to think about choices. I can moan and complain or I can dance with joy. Oh, God, you know I can find plenty to moan about but I know You are teaching me some great faith lessons here so I am going to opt for door number 2 and I am going to do my very best to show that abiding love to whomever I encounter in my day.  

And the greatest of these is LOVE.

For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but shall have everlasting life John 3:16

Thanks, God, for the reminder and for the love letter...