“Charity never faileth …” (1 Corinthians 13:8)
We love another not because they have perfectly loved us, or have never disappointed or hurt us. Neither do we love because we are assured the one we love will never hurt or fail us again. We love because God is love. Our calling is to love imperfect people. God has placed us in settings through which we must grow in grace or forever remain trapped in our own responses to pain. If we let the fear of being hurt control us we will never be made perfect in love. “He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18)
We can all reach a place where we say, “I can’t take it anymore. I’m out of here.” Or, we can receive from God the grace and strength we need to “let brotherly love continue.”
Offenses will come. Blessed are those who overcome them. Love that never fails is divine.