1 Corinthians 13:7

I have been doing a study on 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Most of us have probably heard this verse a zillion times at various weddings... or were made by our mothers to memorize it when we were younger. Well, all the above for me. It is amazing though the things that will pop out in a verse that I've never really seen before... despite having heard it and read it a quadrillion times. Today as I was reading it verse 7 really jumped off the page:

"It always protects, always trusts, always perseveres." (talking about love)

All three of those things are the biggest issues in my marriage right now. It seems as if I have forgotten about this verse. Of course I remember the patience, kindness, and proud part... but this... I did not remember. So today I broke down those three separate things and asked myself if I have all three of those... if I do them daily in my marriage and as a mother.

Protect - to cover or shield from exposure, injury, damage, or destruction: Guard; Defend: to defend from trouble, harm, attack, etc
Now this first one seems pretty easy. I protect my children from harm every day. Whether it be from almost falling, or keeping the other from pulling the others hair, or etc. How do I protect my husband though? That one is something I am going to have to continue to think about. He is an adult who is to make his own choices... so how am I to protect him from harm or trouble? hmmmm

Trust - Firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing. Reliance on something in the future; hope. Depend
Now trust is something I know I have an issue with. Seeing it in that verse... realizing that having trust in my husband is love... hurt. It something I struggle with every day. I struggle with having trust in God!!! Trust in an all-knowing all-powerful God! So I ask this question, am I to trust him blindly? Just because I love him... am I to forget the betrayals and completely trust him? Despite him not earning that trust? This I feel is something that I need more answers to. Something that I need to study further... ask questions of people who are wiser then me.

Persevere - To persist in or remain constant to a purpose, idea, or task in the face of obstacles or discouragement.
Persist - To be obstinately repetitious, insistent, or tenacious. To hold firmly and steadfastly to a purpose, state, or undertaking despite obstacles, warnings, or setbacks. To continue in existence; last:
This is an area in which I do not think I struggle. I have always been a strong-willed tenacious person. I will never give up! My marriage may be broken, but I believe it can be fixed with a lot of hard work, love, and perseverance. I have continued to push forward, holding on to the hope that things will work out and one day we will be stronger and happier because of it. There have been so many set backs... it seems like I will take 1 step forward and 4 steps back. But I will press on... in finding myself and in loving my family. I know that with God's help I will continue to have the strength to hold firm.

I know that all of these areas I need work in. Some more then others... a lot more then others. I plan on focusing on this verse for a while. Opening my heart to God, letting Him show me where and when I need to work on things.  I hope some day that I am a women so much after God's own heart that my daughters will long to have that kind of relationship with Him too.