Love Versus Tolerance

Credit
Love is a safe place.
It is the place
 where all of your puzzle pieces
 spill out-
are not scrutinized
 as they lay vulnerable on the table,
but instead
gently explored,
held up to light,
put together again
with grace and dignity intact…
Tolerance believes you need fixing.
Love says, “Beautiful!”
Tolerance says, “Acceptable.”
Love embraces. Always.
Tolerance shakes the hand,
is cordial-
but only at a distance.
Love smiles,
brings relief, leans in close.
Tolerance shrugs, nods, scurries away.

Love reads between the lines, listens without words,
fears not silence.
Tolerance speaks often, without ears.
Listens not, never hears…
the heart.
Cares not.
Really.

Love acknowledges the whole.
Tolerance accepts a part. Reluctantly.
Keep your “tolerance”, have it your way.
I’ll take love, hands down, any day.
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. 
Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
1 Corinthians 13:12




Published by enthusiasticallydawn

Dawn Paoletta is the author of Journaling for Discovery and Delight. Her writing is included in several anthologies and her poems have been included in the Wickford Poetry and Art Exhibit and Books. Dawn is currently working on her next book. Inquiries at dawn.paoletta@gmail.com

18 thoughts on “Love Versus Tolerance

  1. Keep your “tolerance”, have it your way.I'll take love, hands down, any day.Me, too, Dawn! Lovely. I don't know that I've thought of all those differences before between love and tolerance…

    Like

  2. WOW! This is so powerful, especially poignant in today's “tolerance-ridden” society. We teach children tolerance in school but how many of them need love and receive it not? Glad I came by. Caring through Christ, ~ linda

    Like

  3. This is beautiful, my friend. And I'm with you. I will take love over tolerance, hands down. Because Love whispers from the heart, while tolerance speaks through gritted teeth.

    Like

  4. there is a huge difference between love and tolerance…love embraces while tolerance does not accept the person, just that they get to keep breathing you know….you ever read 'peppermint filled pinatas'…great book that addresses this a bit…

    Like

  5. it is true…love is so much more than tolerance…never thought about it so detailed… enjoyed it much…and yep.. i prefer love over tolerance as well

    Like

  6. OH this is so true..Tolerance is not nearly enough for True LOVE..the unconditional LOVE..th@IS TRULY LOVE…ALL THE OTHER STUFF..IS JUST ILLUSION..AND NEVER EVER THE LOVE OF THE ONE WHO BRINGS NO ILLUSIONS…AND happy New Year 2014 to YA!

    Like

Comments are closed.

%d bloggers like this: