"and they'll know we are christians by our love"

juli never gives up. (she is patient)
juli cares more for others than for herself. (she is kind)
juli doesn't want what she doesn't have. (she doesn't envy)
juli doesn't strut, (she doesn't boast)
juli doesn't have a swelled head, (she is not proud)
juli doesn't force herself on others, (she is not rude)
juli isn't always "me first," (she is not self-seeking)
juli doesn't fly off the handle, (she is not easily angered)
juli doesn't keep score of the sins of others, (she holds no records of wrongs)
juli doesn't revel when others grovel, (she doesn't rejoice in evil),
juli takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, (but she rejoices in the truth)
juli puts up with anything, (she always protects)
juli trusts God always, (she always trusts)
juli always looks for the best, (she always hopes)
juli never looks back, (she always perseveres)
but keeps going to the end.

-the message (and the NIV)

it's horrifying how untrue this is...disgusting at times... and yet, this is my humanity. some days i do some of this pretty well, and other days... i just don't. some days i just don't even care. some days my heart is bursting with the love that christ has called me to have for God and neighbor, and those are the days i hang on to. this whole "following jesus thing" isn't easy and sometimes the reality of it is disturbing, but i'm thankful that i have a place where i can go and be honest and disgusting and i know that i'm still loved. thank you guys for committing to this community and this journey...and to me.