God is Love by Lori Wildenberg
Today’s Pearls of Promise guest blogger is Lori Wildenberg. Lori has co-authored three parenting books with her ministry partner, Becky Danielson. For more information about 1C13P, the new books, or to connect with Lori go to: www.1Corinthians13Parenting.com or www.loriwildenberg.com . The 1C13P ministry can also be found on Facebook (www.facebook.com/1Corinthians13Parenting)
Lori and her husband, Tom, live in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. A perfect day in Lori’s world is a hike with her husband, four young adult kids, and labradoodle.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:8 (NIV)
Love. Love is who God is.
Studying God’s character helps me understand His will and way for me.
God is love.
What does that mean?
Have you ever studied 1 Corinthians 13? This passage gives us insight to how God loves us and how we are to love others.
The LOVE chapter is often read at weddings and then forgotten about.
But… what if we lived and loved the 1 Corinthians 13 way?
With patience and kindness, without envy, boasting or pride? What if we stopped being selfish, easily angered, or resentful?
Wouldn’t it be great if we did not delight in evil but rejoiced with the truth?
What if we demonstrated the qualities of protection, trust, hope, and perseverance in our lives?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could parent in this way? Being parents who love like God loves and training children to love in the same way?
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
When my kids were younger, I would use 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 as a training tool but I didn’t use it in the best way. It became more of a tool for discipline then a way to parent.
If one of my kids was unkind to another I would have them take this verse, ”Love is kind” and write down ways to be kind to the sibling.
The idea isn’t an awful one. It is practical. But it is short-sighted. Now I realize it focused more on behavior than creating a heart change.
Parenting is more than getting our kids to behave well; it is about developing their character. Developing kindness, patience, contentment and humility.
I want to love like God loves. I hope to grow those traits in myself and encourage them in my children. Lori Wildenberg
About the 1 Corinthians 13 Parent Series:
In 1 Corinthians 13, there are 15 different attributes of love. My co-author, Becky Danielson and I have written two books focused on living and raising kids with these attributes; one book for parents of toddlers to nine-years-old (Raising Little Kids with Big Love) and one for parents of tweens-young adults (Raising Big Kids with Supernatural Love). These books were recently published and can be found on Amazon or at Barnes and Noble.
This month we are launching our book series and Sharing the LOVE by offering over $400 worth of prizes. To be eligible for the free gifts: books, jewelry, or parent coaching just leave a comment on this blog or on any 1Corinthians13Parenting.com post during the month of February.