My husband got up at his usual time, put the cat out who was not so pleased to evicted, and headed to the shower to get ready for his day. I lingered a while in my room, and had a little quiet time and then headed to the kitchen to get my Valentine presentation (I say that with hesitation, because it is really a very litttle thing) going. The plan was Valentine pancakes, and a few candies, candles, and placemat to set off the decor. The dog was still tucked in her bed in the kitchen and the cat greeted me as I walked down the hall. Wait a minute, the cat had been put out! I went to Mel and said: I am confused, I thought you said you put the cat out. “I did he exclaimed”, "well then why is he in the house.” “There must be a door open or something, so now I was on a mission to find out if the house had been secured. Sure enough all doors were still locked and still in wonder I turned on the kitchen light and found that someone had beat me to the decorations and even had left heart shaped donuts neatly arranged on my favorite plate. My daughter, Jennifer had left her mark and case was now solved. She lives around the corner and I suspect she was gathering donuts for the kids and we got to play into her mix. Lucky Us.
There is a lot of hype for Valentines Day, and love is shared throughout with friends and family and even acquaintances along the way. But as I was saying prayers this morning, I thought of my precious friends and so many other who I do not know, who might consider this day a bitter sweet one for reasons that we all can imagine, and my heart hurt at the thought of loneliness, grief, brokenness, rejection and even life changing relationships due to Alzheimer's or other health issues.
Valentine’s Day does not have all the ruffles of sweetness and fun to many.
Oh but then my mind continued on this topic and it was as if the blossoms of spring had begun to open and I realized that yes it is hard when tough things come down, but if this is truly known as a day to celebrate love for family and friends and acquaintances, there is a loving Valentine blessing that is poured upon all of individually that can never be broken or cracked, or assaulted by worldly sources. It is the abounding blessing of a love deeper than we can imagine, a love greater than we can fathom, that has no bounds and is unconditionally wrapped in ribbons of power, strength, wisdom acceptance, confidence, grace and beauty.You can't buy it at a store, or deliver it by mail, it is only able to be delivered by God's personal messenger, the Spirit of the Lord, who dwells in the depths of our heart. This is a love that has no bounds and no degrees, for Christ loves each of us to his infinite capacity, no more no less because God is love. 1 John 4:8. Christ If we have any capacity at all to love, then it has to be generated by God himself. The more we love God, and accept his love right back, the more we are able to love others.
If God were to send you and I a Valentine Card, maybe it would read something like this:
To my child,
On this day, I especially want you to know how very much you are loved by me. I created you, with all your quirks, and weaknesses and strengths. I have given you gifts and talents that have been ordained to be used for my purposes, and many, you have not yet even recognized. I have created within you a void that only I can fill. And day by day as your desire to know me better becomes a reality and you trust me and accept the powers and acceptance and love that only I can offer, you will then begin to embrace the love that has been there all along.
There is nothing that you can do or have done that would cause me to love you any less than my full capacity. You are my child, I know you inside and out and what you are going to do before you do it and what you are thinking and how you will assimilate your thoughts into deeds. I have given you a moral compass to live by, and am helping you to learn to always look up to me for guidance and help.
You are beautiful in my eyes, and I love you with a love that is deeply entrenched into my own heart.
I make no comparisons, and consider you to be my masterpiece. I shower you not with worldly gifts that have no lasting value but with riches that are generated only through my love, forgiveness and grace.
Celebrate this Valentine’s Day with the recognition that I, who sit on my heavenly throne, overseeing all of mankind, have chosen YOU to be be my valentine, not just on this one day but throughout eternity. Accept my unconditional love so that you will be so filled up with it that it will pour forth unto others.
I love you my child, God
Happy Valentine’s Day. May you embrace the love that God has given and think a minute of others and how you can pass along that love to them. It could be a phone call, a card, a text message or even just a prayer lifted up on their behalf. For when we are thoughtful of others it takes our eyes off of ourselves.
I was surprised at my morning discovery, and tickled down to my toes by such a gesture of love. If we turn on our heart lights (I know that is part of a cheesy song) God too will surprise us with riches that far exceed even heart shaped donuts. His surprises are timely, as this one was, and they too will fill your heart with appreciation and a reminder to pass the love along to others.
Here are a few verses for Valentine’s Day”
"And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13)
"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and truth." (1 John 3:18)
"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Romans 5:5)
"Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
"Dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." (1 John 4:7)
"To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." (Mark 12:33)
"We love because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19)
Dear Lord, Oh how you love us! Thank you! Amen
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