A seasonal interpretation of St Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 13, verses 1 to 13.

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on those I love the most, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child; love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband; love is kind, though harried and tired; love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens; love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way; love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t; love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things; love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust. But the gift of love will endure.