Hello Friend!
Tomorrow marks the big day – Valentine’s Day!
My wife, Marsha, has already told me what she desires. I hope you have found gifts for your loved ones too!
Valentine’s Day holds a special place in my heart. Not just because of the opportunity to express my love to my wife, but Valentine’s Day is also the day my father was born. He would be 100 years old if he were alive – wow!
As I reflect on our time together, I remember the fundamental lesson he taught me about love.
You see, my dad lived the example of love. Of course, my mother received great love on Valentine’s Day, but he always took it a step further.
He had a friend who owned a flower shop. So when Valentine’s Day rolled around, my dad would deliver flowers to people’s doorsteps free of charge. He said, “There was nothing more exciting than when someone opened the door, and there was that bouquet of flowers.”
My father taught me that love comes with great joy and pain. That pain might be from losing a loved one or another kind of loss. So, a day that might bring happiness for some of us can also bring sadness for others – this is true for every holiday.
Over time, we all learn the complexities of love and loss.
Remembering this lesson has me reflecting on God’s love.
God’s love was so great that He sent his only Son to die for us.
Can you imagine the pain of sacrificing your own Son? Yet, God knew that you were worth it! Through His Son’s sacrifice, the Lord gained more children.
God could not fathom the thought of losing YOU.
For this entire week, especially tomorrow, I want you to focus on the gifts you received and the gifts you’ve given. And meditate on the extravagant gift of the Father’s love to you!
Jesus died so we could have life – life enteral with the Father.
He loved first so that we could love.
P.S. There is no one better to comfort and understand the loss of a loved one better than the Father. So lean on Him this week!
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” -John 3:16
