love.

come to find out, maybe serving is always difficult.  maybe the most impacting love is also the most difficult to give.  surely if Christ's is the example of the greatest love, it is also the example of the most sacrificial.  so am i not also a fool to think that i can love greatly without sacrificing greatly?  am i not also a fool to think that i can love greatly without being humbled greatly?  may i always be reminded that Christ did not love in order that He might be glorified unto man, but unto God, and that so He might love the least He also become the least.  

love does not seek power, but gives up power, for it knows that power cannot exercise itself in love.  love does not seek authority, for love is more truly displayed in service than in authority.  love does not seek wealth, for to desire wealth is to love oneself more than thy neighbor.  and love is not defeated by the presence of hatred and violence or by the absence of compassion and mercy, but faithfully lives to illuminate such darkness.