Pardon me a moment while I reflect on one of my favorite
holidays… I know it’s not most people’s favorite; cynics call it a man-made holiday designed by Hallmark to sell more cards.
Most everyone knows the stories of Saint Valentine, of Christian Martyrdom, etc. I don’t read all that much into Valentine’s Day except what it is for some people and what it is for me.
On Valentine’s Day you are either with someone or you’re not. You are either a couple or your single. I know it can be considered a painful physical reminder of one’s aloneness. It hasn’t always been a holiday I have celebrated and it might not always be one of my favorite holidays in the future for those reasons.
Valentine’s Day is a day I get to celebrate my love for my husband, Valentine’s Day is also our wedding anniversary; 16 years this year. I cannot say these have all been wonderful years because that’s not the truth. Some years were hard, filled with sadness and wrought with trials and lessons we had to learn.
Some years were fantastically tiring… some were mundane because it gets
mundane after a while. Some years were explosive with love, laughter and comfort sitting next to my soul-mate watching TV in sweat-pants sharing a bowl of potato chips (can you tell which year we’re in). These years; the beginning, the in between and someday the end all make up my marriage.
My kids are obviously learning about Valentine’s Day this week, they will celebrate with their class by handing out home-made cards and store bought candy. One of the things I am hearing in our car rides, during bath time, at dinner and whenever it pops into their heads is…
1 John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us.
We love because he first loved us… How did he first love us? Did he send us cards, heart boxes filled with candy, romantic dinners and promises of nights filled with love? Did he send us flowers? Did he send us gifts?
holidays… I know it’s not most people’s favorite; cynics call it a man-made holiday designed by Hallmark to sell more cards.
Most everyone knows the stories of Saint Valentine, of Christian Martyrdom, etc. I don’t read all that much into Valentine’s Day except what it is for some people and what it is for me.
On Valentine’s Day you are either with someone or you’re not. You are either a couple or your single. I know it can be considered a painful physical reminder of one’s aloneness. It hasn’t always been a holiday I have celebrated and it might not always be one of my favorite holidays in the future for those reasons.
Valentine’s Day is a day I get to celebrate my love for my husband, Valentine’s Day is also our wedding anniversary; 16 years this year. I cannot say these have all been wonderful years because that’s not the truth. Some years were hard, filled with sadness and wrought with trials and lessons we had to learn.
Some years were fantastically tiring… some were mundane because it gets
mundane after a while. Some years were explosive with love, laughter and comfort sitting next to my soul-mate watching TV in sweat-pants sharing a bowl of potato chips (can you tell which year we’re in). These years; the beginning, the in between and someday the end all make up my marriage.
My kids are obviously learning about Valentine’s Day this week, they will celebrate with their class by handing out home-made cards and store bought candy. One of the things I am hearing in our car rides, during bath time, at dinner and whenever it pops into their heads is…
1 John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us.
We love because he first loved us… How did he first love us? Did he send us cards, heart boxes filled with candy, romantic dinners and promises of nights filled with love? Did he send us flowers? Did he send us gifts?
We love because he first loved us…
Just as with a card; He loved us by providing us an instruction manual for life. He gave us this gift of His word and His promises… His promise wasn’t easy or free and it doesn’t guarantee us safe pass in this life. He said there would be troubles and struggles but He promised to walk through it with us.
Expensive dinners… did he woo us there? As he broke bread with his friends,
indicating one of them would betray him he still shared of himself; giving his
friends the secret sauce to eternal life. Body and Blood; Bread and Wine. Matthew 26:28 - For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Sent us flowers and every beautiful thing on this planet; that’s how he
showed love… Genesis 2:9 - And out of the ground the Lord made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.
Ultimate protection and freedom from fear - 1 John 4:18-19 - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because he loved us first.
Salvation for the whole world! John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have ever lasting life.
JESUS!
Just as with a card; He loved us by providing us an instruction manual for life. He gave us this gift of His word and His promises… His promise wasn’t easy or free and it doesn’t guarantee us safe pass in this life. He said there would be troubles and struggles but He promised to walk through it with us.
Expensive dinners… did he woo us there? As he broke bread with his friends,
indicating one of them would betray him he still shared of himself; giving his
friends the secret sauce to eternal life. Body and Blood; Bread and Wine. Matthew 26:28 - For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Sent us flowers and every beautiful thing on this planet; that’s how he
showed love… Genesis 2:9 - And out of the ground the Lord made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.
Ultimate protection and freedom from fear - 1 John 4:18-19 - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because he loved us first.
Salvation for the whole world! John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have ever lasting life.
JESUS!
Yes, we love because he first loved us…
So maybe this year instead of focusing on what it’s not for you or maybe
if you are blessed with family and friends in your life; maybe this year you go
out on a limb and live and love like Jesus… One person at a time!
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth --- 1 John 3:16-18
Happy Valentine’s Day my dear friends!
So maybe this year instead of focusing on what it’s not for you or maybe
if you are blessed with family and friends in your life; maybe this year you go
out on a limb and live and love like Jesus… One person at a time!
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth --- 1 John 3:16-18
Happy Valentine’s Day my dear friends!
RSS Feed
