Love Is Kind

We've looked at love is patient. In this blog post, we're going to be considering the second thing that love is from the 'Love Passage' that is so commonly read at weddings. 'Love is kind.'

As I am doing this blog series in the lead up to Valentine's Day (see previous post, 'Love Is Patient') and as a married woman myself, I am going to be focusing on exercising love on a spouse, but the practical elements of showing patience and kindness in love can be applied to all relationships in our lives.

The definition of 'kind' in the Cambridge Dictionary, describes it as 'generous, helpful, and thinking about other people's feelings' and also as 'not causing harm or damage'. Although the second definition is often used in terms of how we treat the environment or our bodies these days, I also like to think of it in the way we treat others in our relationships.

'Not causing harm or damage.' The way we treat our spouse, through the way we speak, the words we choose to use and the actions we do, can either cause good or harm, bring healing or cause damage. Do we truly treat our spouse the way we would want to be treated?

Staying silent instead of giving a harsh retort may seem like a tough task at the time, but nevertheless it is an act of kindness. Sacrificing your time to ensure you have quality time with your spouse demonstrates love. Giving your spouse your full attention and showing sympathy and understanding when they rant about their hard day at work may appear a simple act, and yet it shows that you are thinking of their feelings above your own. As you heap blessings on the life of your loved one, the bond between you will increase and flourish.

As a wife, I need to be asking myself: 'Am I thinking of my husband before myself?' 'Are my words displaying kindness and not causing harm?' 'Am I encouraging and supporting him?' 'Do I show my husband appreciation and thank him for the things he does in our marriage, no matter how small?'

You can show love even if you don't feel it; in fact, that's especially when we need to show it! You may feel that it's too hard or that they even don't deserve it. Regardless of that, choose to show love anyway. That's what true love is. It's unconditional and doesn't expect anything back. It keeps on giving and chooses to do the right thing. True love in action is good for the soul, and is the antidote against bitterness, anger and resentment. If these three negative elements were eliminated from your life, imagine what good it would do in your relationships?!

Love is not wrapped up in yourself. Love is kind.