Love Never Fails: Charlotte Akin

When our sons were young we would go to Forest Park, Georgia and stay with my husband Danny’s parents every Christmas. We would stay for almost two weeks because Danny was a professor and the boys would be on Christmas break. We had a wonderful time visiting with both sides of the family and looked forward to this special time every year. We have four sons, twins Nathan and Jonathan, Paul, and Timothy. The older our sons grew, the less time we got to spend in Georgia. Our sons all played basketball in middle and high school and every year they would have practice on December 26 for a tournament that would last for two or three days. We would always start the drive home from Georgia on Christmas Day. On the road, Danny and the guys would play a game called “the driving time game.”

We would always start the drive home from Georgia on Christmas Day. On the road, Danny and the guys would play a game called “the driving time game.” Each year the driving time to get back home had to beat the year before. Even if the time difference was just five minutes faster, they thought they were “kings of the road.” One year after we had left Danny’s parents’ house, I realized that I had left my purse at their house. We had only been gone for about 30 minutes, so I asked Danny to drive back to the house so we could get my purse. He took a vote with all the guys and they decided we could not do it because it would set us back on “the driving game.” Oh girlfriends, I went crazy! I cried and cried and told them I hated them all. I tried to explain how my purse had everything in it that I needed to survive and I could not live with out it! Over the years I have looked back on this experience and realized how badly I tried to plead my case. My wisdom and logic were completely earthly. I was not focused on the spiritual or godly; instead, I was focused on the earthly. I cared only about MY feelings and what I wanted. This was self-centered and I created a destructive atmosphere for everyone in the van that day. I should have acted in a Christ-like manner. We all know that a sweeter, calmer manner gets better results than a harsh and bossy one. In God’s word he teaches us to love others better than we love ourselves. My actions were not very lovely that day. I got my feelings hurt because my husband and teenage sons voted against me. That wounded my heart and I lashed out in anger. We know it’s never right to lash out when your feelings get hurt or things do not go your way. Love is long-suffering and kind. Love does not insist on its own way. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Since Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, I encourage you to cherish those you love. Thank the Lord often for giving you these treasured gifts! Love never ends!