Love is…
Translated by Michelle J. S. Richards, Ph.D.
13 1 Although I say fancy, worldly words or speak in the spiritual language of saints and angels, but if
my actions do not reflect unconditional, self-giving love, I have become just a loud, abrasive, annoying
sound. 2 And although I have the gift to understand all of God’s secret and mysterious plans, have
wisdom, knowledge, and discernment of all things, and have so much faith in the unseen that
miraculously obstacles are removed or perceived differently, but if I do not have selfless love, it is of no
benefit to me. 3 Although I give away all my worldly possessions to the ill, poor, homeless, and to
survivors of natural disasters, and though I sacrifice myself, but I do not have selfless love, it is of no
benefit to me.
4
Love is willing to endure unpleasant situations and is characteristically and habitually generous,
gentle, tender, and compassionate; love is not enviously longing for the successes or belongings of
another or jealously resenting that another has something that one believes he or she deserves; love
does not show off and brag ostentatiously or pretentiously; 5 love is not arrogant, haughty, or
presumptuous; does not behave discourteously, impolitely, harshly, or rudely; does not exploit others,
consistently putting self-interest before the greater good, or neglect self and others; is not challenged,
irked, angered, annoyed, aggravated, exacerbated, instigated, offended, or infuriated, it does not keep
score, brood over being wronged, nor have thoughts of revenge and retaliation instead showing grace
when others do hurtful, unkind, sinful, or evil things; 6 does not enjoy watching others stray from God’s
way, but rejoices when God’s words and ways are followed; 7 holds up, supports, believes, trusts,
hopes, and endures all things. 8 Love lasts forever… 13In this life, three things endure: faith, hope, and
love. However, the biggest, best, and most powerful of these is love. 14 1 Earnestly pursue, strive to
possess, exercise, and be influenced by the characteristics of love as your chief goal in life.
--- I Corinthians 13:1-8a, 13; 14:1a.
About the Author:
Dr. Michelle J. Richards, Ph.D., counsels or coaches clients, executives, employees, and businesses owners. Our services
include counseling (individual, marital, family, & group); trauma work; peak performance, and executive coaching;
EMDR; hypnotherapy; parenting coordination; and Critical Incident Debriefing. She welcomes clients who are in crisis or
need to accomplish goals. This is an adaptation from her unpublished manuscript, “Mend it or End itTM.” For more
information, go to her website: www.JoyfulLifeInstitute.com or call 972-906-5607. Follow us on Facebook at Joyful Life
Institute. Tweet us at JoyfulLifeInst.
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Disclaimer:
Vignettes and anecdotes are works of fiction. Any names, characters, incidents, locations, and interactions herein are
fictitious. Any similarity to or any identification with any person (living or dead), history of any person, historical figures,
event, location, product, or entity are entirely coincidental and unintentional. The descriptions of people and their
interactions are composites of many people she has met in her life.
© 2012 Michelle J. Richards, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved
Joyful Life Institute, Inc.
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