Ruth 1:16-17a
We have been created to be in relationship with God and others for the long haul. We were created to commit to others and love them through good times and bad.
This isn't what we are taught though in society. We're taught to move on when things aren't going well. We're taught to put ourselves first. Self love is promoted. Even Jesus' words are used for this mentality. "Love your neighbor as yourself" is taken to the extreme in that the second part is emphasized rather than the first.
Loving people for a long time is hard. It's easier to "cut and run."
We are so used to getting things quickly in our society that this kind of commitment is difficult for us to grasp.
Writer Ruth Haley Barton writes, When "we commit ourselves to loving [people] for the long haul, people will be drawn to us as they sense God's life in us."
Mike Mason writes, "each one of us must find a way to join the human race, casting off our separatedness and throwing in our lot with others."
That is what Jesus did. That is what He does.
When we feel like giving up because things are difficult, boring, tedious, sad, we must go to God and ask Him to renew our hearts in the situation, renew the love for the people around us, help us to recommit ourselves daily if necessary.
God NEVER ever gives up on us.