Paul describes for us in very vivid terms just what God means by love. The characteristics of love are born out of our choice to love not just some feeling within. He has chosen to love us not because we deserve His love or can any way earn it. Ask God to help you love all people by the determination of your will. There is one more truth about love we need to consider.
Love is the Christian badge.
The most distinguishing mark of a Christian is love. Jesus is our ultimate example. The greatest demonstration of love is to lay one's life down for another. Jesus was not a man who used words loosely, He did just that. Paul says at the beginning of verse 8, Love never fails.