1 Thessalonians 2:6-9

⁶nor did we seek honor from people, either from you or from others, though we could have asserted our authority as apostles of Christ. ⁷But we proved to be gentle among you. As a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children, ⁸in the same way we had a fond affection for you and were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.

⁹For you recall, brothers and sisters, our labor and hardship: it was by working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, that we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.