Oh what fun I had this morning! Asked to come share the good news of Jesus Christ with the elementary school of Denbigh Baptist Christian School (Brooke and Grant’s alma mater), I jumped at the chance to open the Word of God to little children. I am always humbled by their genuine acceptance and authentic joy. And, after a long week of some difficult introspection, their kind faces and loving responses personified love. When asked about VALENTINE’S DAY and what it means, they responded: It’s a day to show people how much you love them. Tell them with words how you feel. Give flowers to those you love. Share the words of Christ with people. Yes, little Aubrey shared that one. She melted my heart. I asked them why they thought there is only ONE day a year to do such things. Shouldn’t we express this love on the other 364 days of the year?
Loving one day a year is easy. Loving 365 days a year is a different story. As we opened the Word, we talked about three very powerful scriptures. Scriptures that requires a great deal of discipline and practice:
- Ephesians 4:19, “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth except that which is useful for the building up of others, according to their need.
- 1 Corinthians 13:5-8, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
- Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life is in the power of the tongue.”
I am so passionate about this subject, the power of our words, that I dedicated a whole chapter in Rock-Solid Families to it—primarily because I need it. After chapel, a teacher came up and said, “Thank you. We all needed to hear that. I really needed it.” I smiled and replied, “Oh, believe me, I could spend the rest of my life trying to keep these scriptures.”
Tomorrow is ONE day on which we can express our heartfelt love to those we love. But, then there are 364 more days to follow. May God help us know how to love as He first loved. Unconditionally. Graciously. Honestly. Deeply.
Dear God,
You are Love. You are True Love.
Tomorrow the world will
show grand displays of love—with balloons, flowers,
heart-shaped boxes of candy.
Some will show love by giving diamonds,
candlelight dinners and extravagant gifts.
While all of these things are beautiful and lovely,
the greatest LOVE of all was shown on Calvary.
There, on a lonely hill, You gave your life for me.
This Valentine’s Day, I remember that LOVE
most of all. And, I am grateful. So very, very grateful.
Amen.