I am an ER nurse and the question hits me in the middle of a block of night shifts. I’m tired. I’m sweaty. My eyes are red and I have a headache. ‘Do I love these people?’

The question scorches through my tired brain right alone with a sigh. The question haunts me on the drive home as I chat with my dear parents to stay awake. The question lingers till my days off.

“Ok,” I said. “I need to figure out what love is to answer this question.” And so began my journey.

Ok Lord, let’s see what Your Word says about love. Let’s open that book in the Bible and I start looking!

I Corinthians 13, often referred to as the love chapter, seemed the best place to start. Just pause for a moment and read it all the way through.

Love is described as long-suffering, patient, kind, not envious, nor neither proud; nor seeking personal gain nor attention, and not stuck up. That is a lot and that is one verse. Out of that one verse I am stuck by the fact that one of the first describers of love is long-suffering or persistent.

We learn that speaking without love, although potentially sounding brilliant is pointless. So what is love? Prophecy without love is pointless. We really need this thing called love! And finally, although we give all we have, even up to our very life-breath and have not love, it is useless. At times I feel I am giving my life to my patients. All I have seen are hallways, sad faces, and computer screens or the back of my eyelids while I sleep.

‘Do I have love? Help me because I went through college, three years of university and 6 months of practical Emergency Department training but I wasn’t taught this!’

This brings me back to my block of five twelve hour night shifts in six days. Not my best moments let’s say. I feel drained. I feel tired. My feet hurt. But could I love by just showing up? Could I love by being persistent, consistent, reliable, and available to help? Could I show love by just showing up to work? Well, yes! Love is persistent. I can do that! Praise God! This is an interesting concept to contemplate and one that has totally changed my life shift by shift.