Am I Lovable?

Proverbs 10:12: "Love covereth all sins."

As Valentine's Day approaches, it's so easy to ask the question: "How much am I loved?" In reality, it isn't about how much I am loved, but, "Am I lovable?"

I am reading, this morning, the above scripture about love covering "all" things and also reading in I Corinthians 13:7 which tells us some of the attributes of love:  "beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." What a challenge!

In relationships, it is so easy to focus on "MY" feelings. I am convinced that love is not about what I get but the experience I have when I am "all" encompassing my life with bearing, believing, hoping and enduring.

The word "all" embraces every circumstance in my life.  It is very difficult to not be selective in the things I choose to forbear or endure. It is much easier to hold grudges when I've been hurt or mistreated.  This evolves into unforgiveness and bitterness and I will be cautious and untrusting in my approach to relationships. I can't hope to give or feel love when I am not being obedient to Scripture.

The Love Chapter also says that "Love never faileth."  Whew!  It's hard to comprehend the "all" and the "never" approach isn't it?  So, if I am to understand "love", I am seeing that I have to be a very forgiving, open, believing and hopeful person.

In reading more Love verses, it looks like I have to put others first, always be kind, not be pleased when people get their due in life, not get provoked (upset), not think badly about people, and not think I'm better than others.  Me?  Can I pull out even a couple of these traits I am doing ALL of the time?

But, if I'm honest with myself, these are the traits I do expect in others if they really want me to love them! Isn't that enlightening? It's pretty hard to cover up the glaring bad traits of others! If I understand what these Bible verses on love are saying, I think I have some work to do!  I must concentrate on downplaying the faults of others and concentrate on eliminating those same traits in myself.

Isn't it so easy to start accusations with "You always" or "You never"?  My husband and I made some commitments a long time ago to try and not use those phrases in communicating. But what if I turn them around and use them positively in my own Love Makeover?

"All things."  Excuses come easily. And aren't there exclusions to everything? Maybe. Probably. However, my personal challenge this February is, yes,  to let Love cover "all" the faults in others. But goal #1 is to work on my "alls" and "nevers" in my own life. I realize I can't be perfect, but I know I've been made aware of some ways to be a good bit more lovable!