"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." 1 John 4:7
I was very fortunate to be born into a home where 'I love you' was spoken often. We loved one another. Through that love I learned true acceptance, commitment, joy and family. I was able to accept God's love into my heart at a very young age (refer back to post; 'I Can't Quit Smiling).
When Dana and I married those same words were used on an even deeper level than I had ever known. You see, Dana was from a home where his mom spoke those words not only audibly but also through her deeds and actions (1 John 3:18). She gave all she had to her children. She loved hard in work and in play. She received the Lord into her life as an adult and ran with Him. I only knew her for the last two very short, very sick years of her life. But in those two years I learned so much just from watching her. Through that love she so easily gave to her son, filled him with so much it overflowed into the love he readily gave to me and then to our two sons.
I felt it only fitting on Valentine's Day to mention how important it is for us to love hard; appreciate where we came from and where we are now, especially with the love of Christ in us. His example of love as He walked this earth is so vibrant when we read His Word. He is our One true ultimate example of love.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
When your loved ones hear these three words from you it erases all the mistakes you have made recently. I don't use these words casually. When I love someone I tell them and they know it. And when they return those words it validates our special relationship and creates a peace and confidence in me that I can love even bigger.
Let's celebrate today by telling God how much we love Him through our actions of loving the people He has placed in our life. Start with your husband; he needs to hear you say those three special words (not just today but everyday, many times a day).
"Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love."
(1 Cor. 13:13)
And guess what?
I love you & He loves you more!
Lord, Thank You for the gift of love. Your Son is the perfect picture we have to follow. Help me to love with all I have. To embrace Your love and give from that well...unending, complete and full...love. I love You, Lord! Amen.
Happy Valentine's Day!