The united characteristics of love

It is written, "Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud; it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always hopes, always trusts, always perseveres. Love never fails."

It is also written, "Love does not harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."

I noticed that patience is first in the list of what love is. I also noticed that patience is one of the fruit of the spirit (along with love, and seven other fruit.) The connection between the fruit intrigue me. These connections convince of what some theologians seem to think: that there is one fruit (love) and eight descriptions.

To decide to "suffer long" before speaking results in joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and especially, self-control. I can see why patience is listed first.

As God showed me a long time ago, patience implies a time limit. It doesn't not imply waiting indefinitely. The "three strikes and you're out," rule seems to be what Jesus gives the apostles in dealing with offenses. If a believer is offended or sinned against, he or she is to go to the offender alone, then with a witness, then before the body. The offender is given "three strikes." In other words, the offended does not have to wait indefinitely before dealing with the offense.

I've personally experienced the value of limits placed upon patience. Once when I had a very long distance to walk, I used the telephone poles to shorten the distance in my mind. I thought, "I only need to make it to the next pole." If I had focused on the whole journey, I may have lost heart.

A second experience involved me deciding to wait a whole minute before repeating a request at work. Because I knew the minute would end, being patient was alot easier.

Thus love was alot easier. I saw it as an act of love to wait, resulting in joy (or satisfaction, or a maintenance of the state of well being), peace (between me and the person I waited on). It felt like an act kindess and goodness. I felt faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. I felt free. I did no harm. I experienced the united characteristics of love.