I Corinthians 13 – Love Is Patient

Ron Hughes reminds that “love is patient” even when faced with great difficulties. Enjoy this series by Ron from I Corinthians.

Room 318

Jim stepped back from the door to double check the room number. Yes, this was 318, but when he looked in, rather than Robin sitting up in her bed eagerly anticipating his visit he saw a small still form under the sheet facing away from the door.
“Robin,” he called softly.
No answer.

“Robin, are you awake?” As he approached the bed, the thin shoulders under the sheet began to shake and tiny muffled sobs escaped from the pillow.
“Honey, what’s wrong?”

Now, the shaking became more violent and the sobs could not be stifled. Jim went back and closed the door, then re-approached the bed.
“Robin,” he said “what on earth’s the matter? I thought the doctor said they were getting on top of this and you would be home in a couple of weeks.”

Despair Filled Eyes

The form under the sheet stirred, then rolled over. Despair-filled eyes looked into his.

“Go away, Jim. It can’t work. Find someone else.” The words came out somewhere between a sob and a whisper.
Jim pulled a chair near the bed and sat down. “Are they trying some new pain medication on you? You’re talking crazy.”
“No new meds, and I’m not talking crazy.” Robin paused, her eyes scanning his face for a reaction. “When you asked me to marry you, you didn’t sign up for this and I can’t make you wait any longer.”
Jim’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What’s wrong? I thought that…”

I’ll Wait For You

She interrupted him. “I know what you thought. I thought the same. I thought I had an allergy or something. I thought I’d go to the doctor, get some pills, take a couple of weeks off work, and be better. But that didn’t happen. Suddenly words like ‘serious’ and ‘urgent’ and ‘critical’ started being thrown around.

Next thing I knew, I was in here getting these horrible treatments. I thought they were getting things under control, but now everything has changed again. This morning, when the doctor came in, he told me I’ve got to do another round of treatments that will last at least six months and he doesn’t know what the results might be.”

Jim said “I’ll wait for you. I told you at the beginning I’d wait for you—that I’d wait as long as it
takes for you to get well so we could get married.”
“You’re sweet, and that’s very kind, but our dream might never come true,” she responded. “I might never get well—and now we have to wait another six months. Another six months! Just to find out if I’m likely to survive, let alone have a shot at a normal life.”
“We knew from the beginning that you might not get well,” Jim said. “That’s why I asked you to marry me so that we could have whatever time God would give us together, whether long or short. Robin, we’ll do what we have to do. If we have to wait longer, we’ll wait longer.”

Love Is Patient

Robin reached for a Kleenex to wipe the tears that were now rolling down her cheeks. “I’m so tired of waiting,” she said. “I don’t want to wait any longer. I’m sure you don’t either. So why don’t we just give up on the whole thing. It was a lovely dream, but it’s a dream that can’t come true. I quit. I give up. You’ve been sweet, but you should leave.”

Jim’s voice shook. “Robin, we haven’t said our wedding vows, but I already made up my mind that I was going to go through this with you regardless of what happened, regardless of how long it would take. I’m not about to change my mind. I think you need to get used to the idea that love is patient. Love can wait. I can wait.”

He reached for her hand. It felt so small that he was surprised by the strength of its grip when she squeezed his hand and spoke. “Do you really mean that you’ll wait another six months?”
“Robin, I’d wait another six years! Don’t worry about that.”
Robin began to weep more violently than ever but now, instead of despair, there was hope in her eyes. She was sure. Jim would wait for her.
Love is patient.

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