A text from one of my fellow Zeta Rho–Epsilon Sigma Alpha members gave me a new kind of heart check the other day. The message wasn’t long, but it was powerful.
My ESA brother, Lester Fife, sent our group a familiar passage from scripture – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, the famous “love” verses. Based on an article he had found online, he suggested reading them in a very personal way. His message said:
“Want to check on your Christian growth? Put your name in the blanks that truly reflect you.”
And then he laid out each of the characteristics with space for a name:
____ is patient
____ is kind
____ does not envy
____ does not boast
____ is not proud
____ does not dishonor others
____ is not self-seeking
____ is not easily angered
____ keeps no record of wrongs
____ does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth
____ always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Now, I’ve heard those verses shared in Bible classes and read at countless weddings. I’ve nodded in agreement as preachers spoke about them from the pulpit. But this was different. Putting my own name into those blanks was like shining a flashlight into the corners of my heart.
A word comes to mind: Yikes.
“Sallie Rose is patient.” Really? Sometimes. But not always. Not when I’m in a hurry and someone ahead of me is driving too slowly. Not when I’ve explained something twice and the other person still doesn’t get it. Patience may describe me on my better days, but it’s not yet a full-time trait.
“Sallie Rose is kind.” I certainly want that to be true. I have been really, really trying to embody that characteristic the past few years. But then I remember times – multiple times – that I’ve been sharp with my words.
“Sallie Rose is not proud.” That one made me pause. Pride can slip in so quietly – feeling a little superior because I’ve done something well or wanting recognition for a good deed. I don’t always think of myself as prideful, but when I see my name next to those words, it challenges me to look closer.
And on it goes, phrase by phrase, shining that light. Some parts gave me comfort: “Sallie Rose rejoices with the truth.” Yes, that feels like me. “Sallie Rose always hopes.” I think so.
But other parts of the exercise exposed where I need to grow.
What struck me most is that Paul wasn’t writing these words as a sentimental piece for a wedding ceremony. He was writing to a church struggling with division, pride and selfishness. He was giving them a measuring stick for real, Christlike love in everyday relationships. Reading it with my name attached made me realize it’s not about lofty ideals. It’s about the daily grind of how we treat each other.
And what a practical tool it is. You don’t have to tackle the whole list at once. Maybe today I can focus on one line: “Sallie Rose is not easily angered.” If that’s my prayer and reminder for the day, it might keep me from snapping when I’m frustrated. Tomorrow I might move to: “Sallie Rose is patient.” Little by little, step by step.
It’s also something we can share in community. Imagine if a whole group of us – whether in ESA, a Bible class, an entire congregation or family – committed to inserting our names into these verses and letting them shape us. The love described here isn’t theoretical. It’s what makes people feel valued, respected and safe.
Maybe you’d like to try it, too. Take a moment and read the passage with your name in the blanks. Be honest about where it rings true and where it doesn’t. Let it encourage you in the areas where you’re growing and gently nudge you where there’s work to be done.
Love, after all, isn’t just a word. It’s who we’re called to become. It’s the pattern we’re invited to follow, the path we’re asked to walk. We’re called to become like Jesus.
And when the name of Jesus fills the blanks, every line rings true, for in him love is perfectly revealed.
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Sallie Rose Hollis lives in Ruston and retired from Louisiana Tech as an associate professor of journalism and the assistant director of the News Bureau. She can be contacted at sallierose@mail.com.
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