This is a translation of a scriptural meditation from the Russian book, “Day by Day”:
"Scripture: ‘Love endures through every circumstance’ (1 Cor: 13,7)
"Meditation:
“I am amazed by one thing in the words of St. Paul: in his song of praise he extolls that which love refrains from. He begins with the words: ‘Love is patient’ and ends with ‘love endures through every circumstance’. Basically, this is the same thing. But it would seem to us more natural to speak about what love can accomplish, and not about what it can endure. Why not praise its great achievements, the obstacles it surmounts, the miracles that it performs. But no, St. Paul was right. The greatness of an accomplishment is manifest in the dark, unnoticed and laborious path it follows, and the laborious path of love is patience. In a moment of enthusiasm, in a moment of inspiration, we are ready for any sacrifice, but it is not in the heat of enthusiastic excitement that the touchstone of love is to be found. True love proves its strength in ordinary life, totally unnoticed; in hot, unseen tears, in a sacrifice made in solitude, after a severe spiritual battle. Will your love hold up under small, daily irritations? Will you hold up when you see yourself misunderstood and unfairly accused? Will you hold up when you receive no answer, and meet only silent antipathy? Will you hold up when you are utterly alone, spurned by everyone? If your love does not die even then, then it is truly worthy of St. Paul’s song of praise.”
Dimitry
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Love will last forever.” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8)