“Love That Lasts: Acts That Endure”

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When I was young—before I met my wife—I fell in love quite often.

I was a romantic. I wrote poetry. I wrote songs.
I even tried to put them to music.

And being who I was, those poems and songs always danced between love and heartbreak.
Maybe I was a poet. Maybe I was a philosopher.
Or maybe I was just searching.

The love of my youth was mostly infatuation.
And usually, it was just on my part.
That kind of love—if it is really love—is weak.
It’s fragile. It breaks easily.

But real love…
Real love is strong.

Real love is a relationship.
It’s mutual.
It’s caring.
It’s marked by gentleness, kindness, trust, and respect.
And it’s sustained—sustained—by continuing acts of love.

I know what love is.
I’ve known it in over forty years of marriage.
I’ve known it in my family.
I’ve known it in the high points and the low ones.
And yes, those low points often came from pride—mine, theirs, ours.
But even then, my wife never stopped loving me.
My family never stopped loving me.

And the most powerful love I’ve ever known—the love that never stops—is God’s love.

Even when my pride builds a wall,
Even when I turn away,
Even when I forget to pray,
God never stops loving me.

That’s the truth.
That’s the gospel.

Saint Paul writes to the Colossians:
“Put on love.”
Put it on like a garment.
Put it on like armor.
Put it on like a daily habit.

Put on compassion.
Put on kindness.
Put on humility.
Put on gentleness.
Put on patience.

Bear with one another.
Forgive one another.
And over all these—put on love.
Because love is the bond of perfection.

And Jesus—Jesus takes it even further.
He says:
Love your enemies.
Bless those who curse you.
Pray for those who mistreat you.
Give without expecting return.
Forgive without keeping score.

This is not the love of youth.
This is not infatuation.
This is not fragile.

This is divine love.
This is cruciform love.
This is the love that pours itself out,
That turns the other cheek,
That gives the cloak and the tunic,
That sings psalms and hymns with gratitude.

This is the love that measures generously—
Packed together,
Shaken down,
Overflowing.

This is the love that makes us children of the Most High.

Because love is not a feeling.
Love is not a poem.
Love is not a song.

Love is a choice. Love is a practice.
Love is a way of life.

And God—God is love.

Amen.

Prayer: Root Me in Love

Lord Jesus,
Clothe me in compassion,
bind me with mercy,
and teach me to love as You love.

Where pride divides,
let Your peace reign.
Where love feels fragile,
root me in grace.

May all I do be done in Your name,
with thanks to the Father
and love that endures.

Amen.