I think most people have heard this verse a time or two...or 80. I Corinthians 13 is something I had to memorize during a church program in 4-5 grade (where are all my STARS girls at???). It is also not something I fully understood until many years after memorizing it. And I kind of think that was the point; taking this knowledge with us as we travel through life. The older I get, the more I understand the deep meaning of scripture in my life and in the lives of others.
There is one verse that gets me to the core....especially recently: Love has no record of wrong. Quite a few people in my life, including myself, have gone through some tough times lately. As we all know, life is not sunshine and roses. Things happen that have little to no explanation and leave us asking, "Why?" It can leave us angry, bitter, or make us feel like we are being punished. More than anything, these hard times can make us feel so...alone. These are times when our family and friend's support means everything. Just a simple "I'm thinking of you" can mean everything to someone going through a hard time. And not saying something can break whatever relationship was there before hand.
This is when this passage of scripture is so important. Loving always. Not just when things are easy and good. Always. Love never fails. And it keeps no record of wrong. Love is not conditional. You cannot say you love someone and then peace out when things get hard. You cannot say, "I love you unless you do this or do that." You cannot say you love someone and then list conditions of your love. That is not love. God gave us love in the context of I Corinthians 13 - love encompasses everything. Love does not hold things against us. That is not part of love.
Now, this blog is about parenting. And so I am about to get on my soap box (if I'm not already) and make my point: you cannot love your child(ren) and hold things over their heads. Your cannot love your child(ren) but only if they win that trophy or get straight A's or win beauty pageants. The best thing you can do for your child is encourage them and love them despite their shortcomings. They are not perfect but THAT is why you love them. Because they are themselves. Your children will succeed when they know you love and believe in them...no matter what. I am begging all of you to love your children and your spouse (or partner, boyfriend, etc) unconditionally. Otherwise...it just isn't love. It just isn't.
My best friend sent me an e-card that said, "Thanks for being such a good friend when my life looked life a Cymbalta commercial." The first thing I did was laugh hysterically. The second thing I did was say to myself, "No. Thank you. That's what it's about." THAT is what it's about. Love without conditions. No record of wrongs. It's easy to love someone when everything is great. Make sure you are loving them when their lives look like a Cymbalta commercial. 
