Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 

One aspect when you go abroad is knowing that things may not be the same when you get back. While you’re off in your own exciting new world, life is still going on back home. You will inevitably miss out on fun events at school, special family gatherings, and new inside jokes among friends. However, one thing I would not, could not ever foresee is finding out that one of my best friends won’t be there when I return.

As I read the scripture above, one that I’ve heard my dear friend Martha recite countless times, I cannot help but think how much she embodied the definition of love.  Martha was never one to seek praise or attention, but rather sought to serve others in her gentle and selfless way. Such a genuine and loyal friend, she was the person I could share anything with and trust not to tell a soul or pass an ounce of judgement. Martha was so loving, hilarious, inclusive, adorably awkward, and beautiful in every sense of the word. Although gone from this world, her spirit still remains in the countless people she managed to profoundly touch in her short life.

Things like this are so difficult to grasp and absolutely impossible to understand, but one thing I have taken away from all of this is that it is truly so important to take advantage of every precious moment. In my opinion one of the best parts of being abroad is living in the mindset that you must grab every opportunity that comes your way and strive to take full advantage of your short time there. But why should this just be a thing when you’re abroad?  These past few days have reminded me that the only moment we truly ever have is right now. I’m serious. You hear things like that all the time and the sayings start to lose meaning, but they are exceptionally true. We must not take a moment for granted, no matter where we are- tell people how much you love them, give plenty of hugs and smiles, and live a life filled to the brim with love and compassion, just as Martha did.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13