There is just something in us that craves love. Everyone wants to be accepted. It is a natural desire God created us with. But here is the challenge—even though we crave love, most of us were never taught how to recognize or build the kind of loving environment we really need. And that is why we face challenges in life.

In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul shows us how to effectively face these challenges. He says in Verse 13, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” You see, learning the importance of faith and hope will undoubtedly change your life, but do you know what else will change your life? Learning to build an environment of love. And Paul describes just how to create this atmosphere in Verse 7. He says that this type of love “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.”

In other words, it puts up with people we don’t feel like putting up with, believes the best in them, treats them the way God treats us and never gives up on them. That’s the way love works. It is the kind of love that causes a father, mother, child, boss and co-worker to have the kind of success God desires for them. But it is up to us whether or not we will open up our hearts to be used by God to love.

I recently heard a story about one little boy who was attending a Sunday school class, and when the teacher asked him to recite the Lord’s Prayer, he replied with, “… God, please forgive my trash-passes as I forgive those who pass trash against me.”

Obviously this little boy was a bit mixed up, but his version of the prayer really makes sense for most of us.  We all have times in life whenever we’re either “passing the trash” to someone else or they are “passing the trash” to us. And during those times, we need to make a decision to identify with Jesus and to love like He loves.

The holiday season is often a time many people are reminded of their past. They are faced with the reality of certain relationships—loving or damaging—this time of year. That’s when love takes work. It may be hard to believe in someone and accept them regardless of what they’ve done, but isn’t that exactly what they need? Just imagine with me—what could that type of constant love really do in someone’s life? If there was ever a time people have needed loved unconditionally, protected, believed in and given hope to, it is now.

So I urge you today not to just go through the motions this Christmas. Remember that it’s not the nice gifts, fun parties or good food that will create the environment you are looking for. It is learning to build a life of love. And though it takes work, this love never fails!