Leah Van Ert | Above All Else, Put on Love

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if you have any grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:12-14

Do you get goosebumps while reading those verses? Because I do. Every. Single. Time.

A few years ago, when I would read this verse, I perceived it as an impossible to do list. How am I supposed to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient all the time? Spoiler alert: I can’t do that. And you can’t either. No one can except for Jesus.

I used to beat myself up day in and day out because I wasn’t the embodiment of all those traits listed above. Even though I knew that I knew that I knew that no one could be all those things all the time, reading that passage only made me feel imperfect and rotten inside.

But then I kept reading. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And the light bulb started to turn on. I need to forgive myself too. And above all else… put on love. The light bulb is as bright as can be now. Love is the key that binds us together in perfect harmony.

When in doubt… love.

Illustrated Faith Big & Bold stickers in Black Eyed Pea | Illustrated Faith Precision Pens | Illustrated Faith Genesis Collection “Love It” stickers | Illustrated Faith Genesis Collection “Reminders” washi tape