Love is… ❤️
Love suffers long and is patient. 1 Corinthians 13: 4
Valentines Day, in my opinion, is one of the most sweet and simple holidays that we celebrate. I love walking into stores this time of year. Flowers burst with color, heart shaped chocolate everything and bright red and pink pops of color everywhere that send a message of love for all to see.
When our daughters were young we started a simple Valentine tradition that still holds today and is now being passed down to the next generation. What is it you ask? Pink milk! Yep, the secret sauce of a fun filled day. A few drops of red food color added to a jug of milk makes pink milk. Served up with heart shaped pancakes and Valentine's morning is complete.
As we ponder the simple theme of Valentine's Day, I have some thoughts on what love is and what love does.
Love is like a warm blanket wrapped around you on a wintery day. Love is a gentle word, a listening ear and eyes filled with heart felt compassion.
Love hears the same stories of the elderly over and over and over; listens with care and doesn't reprove.
Love is a humble heart not striving to be right. It cares more about someone's heart than their opinion.
Love suffers long and waits patiently, never demanding it's own way. It never flaunts itself or stomps around in arrogance.
Love gives and love takes. Love says no, even when it would be easier to just say yes.
Love heals and binds up wounds. Love lets go. It doesn't cling. Love builds up and doesn't tear down.
Love is gentle, sweet and kind. Love is firm and puts up boundaries for safety, but never shuts someone completely out. Love suffers long.
There is only One who is capable of this perfect love. His name is Yeshua Hamashiach, Jesus the Messiah. He laid his love on the cross. His love took on the sins of the world; yours and mine. His love paid the price. The world doesn't comprehend this kind of love; doesn't recognize it and many reject it.
I started this post at the beginning of the week. Here I am a couple days later and my life has turned upside down again. My mother in law is very ill and in the hospital. My father in law with dementia is now staying with us. The trauma of their separation is too much for him to bear alone and he needs someone with him around the clock. Everything that I wrote above about love on Tuesday morning I have now had the opportunity to live out since. Sometimes I have loved well and sometimes not so much. I feel like God gave me all those words in advance to prepare me, equip me, and remind me how best to handle all of this. He is so faithful. His love NEVER fails.
If your heart needs a hug, here is a song to lift you up. Love Never Fails by Brandon Heath https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nQy-aP_Koo
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