Happy Valentine’s Day!
I’m writing this (as I often do) late on a Friday evening, realizing that not everyone celebrates this holiday.
For some, it’s just too painful. They wish they could spend the day with someone special to love, but they’re alone.
For others, it’s hard because they’re either physically or emotionally far away from the one they love.
We didn’t really do anything special today, but we probably should have. Monday was our 30th anniversary, today is Valentine’s Day, and it’s Gary’s birthday today.
It’s not that we didn’t do anything. We went out to eat on Monday night and I made Blueberry Coffeecake tonight. Boy, does that sound lame, even to me. Truth is, we’re just not big celebrators. We really never have been.
We may not go all out on this holiday, but the love is definitely there.
We’ve enjoyed over thirty years of all of the little things that show we love each other:
Washing the cars, baking the cherry pies, changing the diapers, going to work, taking out the garbage, washing the dishes, taking care of the kids, washing the clothes, paying the bills, taking the dishes to the kitchen, changing the batteries in the smoke detectors, picking up the mail, getting groceries, taking care of each other when we’re sick, driving the rental car on vacation, and yes, even buying each other a few gifts, cards, and flowers along the way.
Of course, that list is not exhaustive. How can you list all of the love shown in thirty years?
We’ve made each other laugh – and we’ve made each other cry – but love always reminds us of what’s important.
I don’t know where you’re at today as you read this, but I hope you have people in your life that you love. I hope there are people who love you. I hope you know God’s great love for you and that you love Him with all your heart.
John 3:16 tells us that God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son. If we believe in Jesus we will have eternal life. He died so we could have that life.
That is love. Sacrifice, selflessness, and giving.
We can’t do it perfectly. We’re only human. But we can sure try to show more love to everyone in our lives. Not just on Valentine’s Day, but all year long.
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16 NIV)
How are you at showing love? How can focusing on God help you to lay down your life in lots of little ways as you love God and the people He’s put in your life?