Love Always Protects

We are nearing the end of our 'love series' now! Only a few more days to go until Valentine's Day. I hope that my blog posts on what true love is are proving helpful and insightful, and stirring your heart to truly love your significant other as we approach the special National Day of Love on February 14th!

Love always protects. What a beautiful picture this is! Real love will always seek to protect your loved one from harm, whether that's physically, spiritually, emotionally or mentally.

Protecting gives the image of shielding. This is what true love is like - shielding your loved one from danger, hurt and pain. This kind of love is not inward-focused - rather, it looks for the good of the other person, and has their best interests at heart.

This kind of protection will be gentle, forgiving, kind and unselfish. It looks to build the other person up, strengthening and encouraging them, rather than tearing them down. Although it will always seek to protect, it will never hide the truth or cover over wrongdoing, but rather it will lovingly be honest and open and stand by the other person, no matter what.

The Greek word for "protects" which is used in 1 Corinthians 13, literally translates as "to cover". This is such a lovely image in a relationship. Cover your significant other with your love: watch out for them and be prepared to share their burdens and comfort them during hard times, exhibit patience and forgiveness and shield them from harm.