Love…

We are now approaching one of the most glamorized holidays of the year…Valentine’s Day. This day is set aside to show love for the significant other in your life. Many look forward to romantic dinners, being showered with gifts, adoring words, and appreciation. All of these gestures are greatly appreciated and needed, but isn’t love more than just a romantic dinner, chocolates, and flowers? As the old people would say love is an “action word”, so to give or receive love an action must take place.

Love is more than just a word and should be shown more than just one day out of the year. Love has specific qualities like kindness. Love is not envious, boastful, or proud. Love is not rude, selfish, easily angered, nor does it hold grudges. It’s not evil nor does it delight in evil things. Finally, love protects, trusts, and is hopeful and always perseveres.

So as you observe this special day and exchange words and gifts representing love, ask yourself is the love you are giving and receiving reflective of what God intended love to be? Those that have the privilege to love and to be love are blessed and should not take the opportunity for granted. The bible says you could have given all your worldly possessions away to the poor but if you have not loved…you’ve gained nothing.

Some of the single readers may approach this holiday with sadness because they feel that they do not have anyone to share their love with, but God is love and we are commanded to love God, our Lord with all of our hearts and soul. So regardless of whether you have a physical representation of love, you can always find refuge in the spiritual manifestation of love.

There are many attributes that a person should have but the most important of these is love. So as you plan to celebrate this day with the one you love or with the ONE who is love, ensure that the love you are giving and receiving meets the standards in which it was created.