Christmas, 1st Corinthians 13 Style

• If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.
  
  
• If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.
  
  
• If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
  
  
• If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
  
  
• Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
  
  
• Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.
  
  
• Love is kind, though harried and tired.
  
  
• Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
  
  
• Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way.
  
  
• Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.
  
  
• Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
  
  
• Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure.

[ Author Unknown -- from 'E-mail Ministry' ]