Love is ....

The other day I was watching a re-run of a drama 再见单人床 (Pillow Talk). There was this particular scene where a few aunties volunteered to cook some dishes for old people in an elderly home. A priest was there and was asking them what they think love is.

Their responses were found in the passage on love in the Bible:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.Love never fails.  (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, NIV)

The next scene showed the supporting actress (one of the aunties) asking the priest how could anyone achieve all that was mentioned. She said it was impossible. And the priest honestly confessed that it was difficult even though he has memorised the verses since he was 8. But he said that he had a 'formula' to help himself move closer to achieving it. So she asked him how.

And he said 我的事，我开开心心做。别人的事，我不要生气。
(Doing my own things happily and not be affected/angered by others' matters)

The priest went on to give an analogy to explain to the auntie. He asked her if anyone forced her to come and cook for the elderly. And she said no. She came voluntarily and is happy in doing so. So he said that's doing my own things happily.

Then he asked her what if one old man ate her food and disliked it and stopped eating. Who's matter/business is that? And she was slightly agitated and said of course it's my matter. He doesn't like my cooking! I cooked the whole morning and this is how he show his appreciation? The priest said the old man has the right to eat or don't eat the food. It is his choice, his matter. Why should you be angered by what he does? Also, if you expect the old man to eat your food (behave in the way you expect) in return for your cooking, then your love is conditional.

Many times, our love is conditional.

We thank God for giving Charlene to us. Through taking care of Charlene we learnt more of what unconditional love is and can better appreciate God's unconditional love for us.