Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Do I Have Love?

Adapted from and inspired by the quote shared on BiblicalWomanhood.com...

If all of my room is spotless and sparkling
and I have a lace bed quilt and lovely flowers all around
but I can't speak kindly to my family,
I might as well have dust and dirt on all sides.

If I am able to make quilted Victorian table-runners
and set a table fit for a king
but I don't show respect to my father,
I might as well have a stained tablecloth and paper plates.

If I can plan, prepare and cook a six-course meal
and serve it in style with skill and poise
but I'm not thankful to God for my daily bread,
I might as well be eating a microwave dinner.

If I am able to be a gracious hostess to friends,
and love to serve a tea in rosebud teacups
but do not have a heart of compassion for Christ's poor,
I might as well serve tea in styrofoam cups.

If I possess all the powers of charm and manners,
and a closet full of stylish apparel
but cannot get my hands dirty in service of others,
I might as well have a wardrobe of rags.

If I have all in place and order in my room and home,
and appear to all eyes to be organized and confidant
but don't place each day in the hands of my God,
I might as well not have that day.

If I have been given numerous gifts and talents,
and can dazzle all around with my skill
but have not love,
I am nothing.
.....................................

I Corinthians 13: "If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, it is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails."

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is so beautiful, Claire! Thank you for posting it.
I am sorry for all the times I snapped at you and was unkind, especially today!
Much Love,
Veronica

Anonymous said...

That is so beautiful, Claire! Thank you for posting it.

Anonymous said...

I echo...

Beautiful

Clare said...

Dear Claire,
Thank you for your sweet comment! I’m sorry it has taken me this long to get back to you. I’ve been quite busy, so blogging has been put to the side, for the moment!

My knowledge of the Spanish language is quite small; but I take each opportunity to expand it a little further! All I can say is “hello” and the common greetings and meetings.
I was so excited when I saw that you had written to me in Spanish that I pulled out my Spanish/English dictionary, and meticulously looked each word up and *tried* to figure what you wrote. So, here is what I found…

Encantada, Clara! (Our name is the same in Spanish) :)
Pleased to meet you, Clare! (Yes, How Unique!)
Entonces usted estudia Espanol tambien... que bueno!
Then – you – studied – Spanish – also – whom – good!
Debemos escribir en Espanol, y practicamos esta idioma. :)
- ? - write – in – Spanish, - and - practice – these – language - :)
Me gusto hablar una otra idioma, pero quiero saber como hablarlo
Me – pleasure – speech – one – another – language, - but – love - ? – like – speech -
completamente!.
complement!

I don’t have a Spanish keyboard either, but I don’t mind. I think I can read it still fairly well. No, I didn’t study Spanish, I have always wanted to learn a second language and some people mentioned that Spanish was a relatively easy language to learn, so in my spare time, I try and teach myself a little! I would love to try Danish/French. I’ve heard that the Danish language us very similar to German and Norwegian.

God’s Blessings,
Clare
Psalms 136:1

Claire said...

Hola, Clare!

This is such fun! I'll translate for you, because unfortunately since I couldn't include the accents, the dictionary had some of the words in a different form (those accents are muy importante, en espanol!)

So, here is what I wrote:
:)

Encantada, Clara!
Enchanted, Clare! (An equivalent of our saying "Pleased to meet you!")

Entonces usted estudia Espanol tambien... que bueno!
So you study Spanish also... how nice!

Debemos escribir en Espanol, y practicamos esta idioma.
We should write in Spanish, and practice this language.

Me gusto hablar una otra idioma, pero quiero saber como hablarlo completamente!
I like speaking another language, but I want to know how to speak it completely!

By the way, if there happens to be anyone else around who knows/is learning Spanish, feel free to jump in! ;)

Peace,
Claire

Phil 4:8
Soli Deo Gloria!

Anonymous said...

Very lovely, and so very true!

~Mrs. Kate Hollmann