Dear Family and Friends,

“Love never fails.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Most of us have read and heard this verse many times. But do we really understand what it means?

Many of us have experienced love that failed.

Many of us have experienced or witnessed divorces and breakups, visible examples of failed love.

One of the emerging trends in Japan is married women calling their “useless” retired husbands nure ochiba. It means wet fallen leaf, the image of a busy wife trying to brush her bothersome husband away, only to have him cling to her broom.

She resents her loss of freedom and autonomy as her husband, who was mostly absent during their married life, now sits around all day giving orders.

So, what did Paul mean when he said love never fails?

He was referring to the kind of love that never fails – agape love. The love we have for someone yet expect nothing in return.

If our love is based on a desire to serve someone and meet their needs, then it doesn’t matter how they behave or act towards us. This love will never fail.

On the other hand, love founded on what we receive, a selfish need-filling love, can fail when our needs are no longer being met.

This short conversation with our 20 month old grandson examples the two kinds of love.

Aileen: Your toy truck is in the bedroom. Do you want Papa to help you get the truck?

Grandson: NO!! (Think loud voice)

Aileen: Do you want Nana to help you?

Grandson: Okay! (Think sweet voice)

It was difficult to hear that I was downgraded. It was my fault for not playing with him as much these past few weeks.

Our grandson’s love is based in what others do for him. This kind of love is normal as he’s years away from thinking of others and meeting their needs.

And while we think only God can agape love someone, we as parents and grandparents love in this manner all the time.

We know there is nothing a young child can do for us, yet we always want the best for them.

We could be the stingiest people ever, yet we want to sacrifice our time and treasure for them.

When we get rejected or seen as number two, does our love for them waver? Never.

When they misbehave, do we stop loving them? Never.

When they start to wander off, don’t we follow them, making sure they’re safe?

This love that we have for our children and grandchildren is just like the love our Father has for us.

“For there is nothing we can do to make God love us more, and there is nothing we can do to make God love us less.” Phillip Yancey

Let’s thank Him this Father’s Day. In fact, let’s thank God all the days He loves us – every single day!

In love always,