LOVE IS … being a good student of another, looking for their physical, emotional and spiritual needs so that in some way you can remove the burden, support them as they carry it or encourage them along the way.
LOVE IS … being willing to invest the time necessary to discuss, examine and understand the relational problems you face, staying on task until the problem is removed or you have agreed upon a strategy of response.
LOVE IS … being willing to always ask for forgiveness and always being committed to grant forgiveness when it is requested.
LOVE IS … recognizing the high value of trust in a relationship and being faithful to your promises and true to your word.
LOVE IS … speaking kindly and gently, even in moments of disagreement, refusing to attack the other person’s character or assault their intelligence.
LOVE IS … being unwilling to flatter, lie, manipulate or deceive in any way in order to co-opt the other person into giving you what you want or doing something your way.
LOVE IS … being unwilling to ask another person to be the source of your identity, meaning and purpose, or inner sense of well-being, while refusing to be the source of theirs.
LOVE IS … the willingness to have less free time, less sleep and a busier schedule in order to be faithful to what God has called you to be and to do as a spouse, parent, neighbor, etc.
LOVE IS … a commitment to say no to selfish instincts and to do everything that is within your ability to promote real unity, functional understanding and active love in your relationships.
LOVE IS … staying faithful to your commitment to treat another with appreciation, respect and grace, even in moments when the other person doesn’t seem deserving or is unwilling to reciprocate.
LOVE IS … the willingness to make regular and costly sacrifices for the sake of a relationship without asking for anything in return or using your sacrifices to place the other person in your debt.
LOVE IS … being unwilling to make any personal decision or choice that would harm a relationship, hurt the other person or weaken the bond of trust between you.
LOVE IS … refusing to be self-focused or demanding, but instead looking for specific ways to serve, support and encourage, even when you are busy or tired.
LOVE IS … daily admitting to yourself, the other person and God that you are unable to be driven by a cruciform love without God’s protecting, providing, forgiving, rescuing and delivering grace.
“This resource is from Paul Tripp Ministries. For additional resources, visit www.paultripp.com. Used with permission.”
