The New Rules for LSD: Chapter 5 (Part 2)

Chapter 5: Love Is (Part 2: Paul's list)

Before I started reading the different breakdowns, I thought I had a decent handle on the different traits. 3 sentences in, I discovered I'm pretty sure I need to work on a lot more than I thought, patience to begin with.

Love is Patient: 1 Corinthians 13:4

* "Patience is the decision to move at someone else's pace, rether than pressuring them to match yours.'
* 'Patience is choosing to do less than you are capable of, for the sake of keeping in step with someone else.'
* Pace: of understanding, making decisions, conversations, career advancement, decision/readiness for parenthood, decision to take relationship to the next level....
* Pace = decision to pause - push.
* Pace (patience) = Decision; Impatience = Emotion
* Patience isn't natural. We naturally assume our pace is the right pace.
* Love is patient: never pressures the other to move at own pace. Love defers to the other's pace.
* Love is patient = submission; putting other person first.

Love is Kind: 1 Corinthians 13:4
* "To be kind is to leverage one's strength on behalf of another."
* To be kind is to put ourselves at someone else's disposal.
* Kindness = decision; decision to do for others what they cannot do for themselves in that moment.
* Unkindness kills romance immediately. Kindness = most important in relationships.
* How do you respond to weakness in others when there is nothing to be gained??
* Pay attention to how a potential partner responds to those they perceive as weak: kind or unkind??
* Unkindness doesn't go away with the help of sex and/or a ring

Love Does Not:  1 Corinthians 13:4

"Love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud."

* Envy, boastful and pride = expressions of insecurity; they undermine the foundations of a relationship; toxic trio.
* Also kills romance.
* Expressed in form of sarcasm, criticism and public disrespect.
* For instance: Success can be threatening. The root of envy runs deeper than the current relationship always. It's not the receiver' fault.
* Envy = individual problem; not relationship problem.
* How do you react to the success of people close to you??
* If you have an issue with envy: ignore initial impulse to bring the other party down and instead choose to celebrate the individual. Don't stay quiet or neutral. Chose to celebrate. Practice in everyday relationships.
* Boast: Don't try to one-up the other person's story. Listen and celebrate them.
* Pride: Keeps us ferom celebrating others.

Dis-Honouring:  1 Corinthians 13:5

"Love does not dishonour."

* Honour: Making the most effort to be the best version of yourself; expressing value through protection (love always protects).
* To honour a person = bringing the best version of you to the table, pay attention to what/how your say things.
* Honour = submission; defers; yields to the other party (you first).
* 'Love is not dishonest' versus 'love does not dishonour' = first is an aspiration, second is something you don't deviate from.
* Honour is not earned, it is a decision.
* Honour is something love (the verb) chooses to do.
* As Christians, we are made in God's image, which automatically makes us honourable. 'Honour is not dependent on behavior but on the divine work they rests inside you.' Therefore, don't be with someone who dishonours you.

Looks like there will be a part 3, possibly 4 for this chapter :)

Chapter 5: Love Is (Part 3: Paul's list B)
.... to be continued ....