The devotions from Rick Warren that have been filling up my inbox this month have been focused on the theme of love. I don't love winter but I certainly love this time of year when love is the focus everywhere. So, this blog post will be full to the brim on the subject of LOVE.
Starting at the beginning of the month, the kids woke up every morning to a heart on their bedroom door. It was fun seeing how excited they were to read the new message each morning. The messages focused on the character we loved about them and was a reminder of how loved they truly are. This morning when they woke up, there was a bigger heart on their door that had a message of love. They enjoyed seeing the many hearts covering their door as we led up to Valentine'e Day, or "Valentime's Day" as Kirra puts it. We shared special moments as I read the valentine's to them each morning and got hugs to start the day. How special to be reaffirmed in love. And really, is it much different with us?
Rick Warren's Daily Hope devotions have been wonderful reminders to me about love and how deep God's love is for us. God took initiative in showing us love and therefore, knowing we are loved we can show that same kind of love to others in our life. I am so grateful for God's love and that it allows me to offer love to those in my life and show His grace to those people. This isn't always easy. There are moments in a day when we are tired or grumpy ourselves and our patience wears thin with those we love the most. But, LOVE is an action and LOVE is a choice. Isn't it better to choose love than choose feelings of anger, bitterness, and discontentment that can too easily fill our life? Rather than choosing to live our life to accomplish and succeed to the world's standards, isn't it better to live our life full of love? Warren talks about life being a lesson of love and reminds us we are only on this earth for a short time but live forever in eternity. Truer words could never be spoken. I remember seeing a quote years ago that talked about regrets in life. "In the end, we only regret the chances we didn't take, relationships we were afraid to have, and the decisions we waited too long to make." Barbara Bush stated it eloquently when she said, "At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict or closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child or a parent." This quote speaks to how short our lives our and the importance of the people and love relationships we have in our life over the achievements and successes.
"Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." ~ Matthew 22:37-38
When I read this Bible verse I always think of a song I used to sing at Bible camp way back when...I remember even reflecting then what it meant to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. What does this look like in our life? What does it look like in our families? So often we get so busy in our lives that we don't stop and take the time to show love through just spending time with those we love. Our schedules take precedence while our relationships suffer. The Bible tells us,
"Dear children, let us not love with our words or speech but with actions and truth." ~ 1 John 3:18
The essence of love is the time we spend with people, not how much we spend on them. While we enjoy buying and giving our children gifts, we know that is only one way we speak love into their lives. I couldn't resist the little red purse for Kirra for Valentine's Day as she loved it when she saw it in the store and it took me back to when I was about 8 years old and got a red purse full of candy for Valentine's Day. Obviously memorable since I am still nostalgic about that purse to this day. However, we know as parents that the more important way to speak into our children is through the time we spend with them and the words of encouragement we speak into their lives as we build them into the people God wants them to be. The kids made a cute heart painting with their hands for Terry for Valentine's Day and also have some gift cards to Starbucks (from Jaret) and Menchies (from Kirra) for him - so that we can have some family dates. They are definitely excited at this gift and the time that it will mean to spend as a family.
The time to LOVE is now! And what time could be more perfect than Valentine's Day? But not just on Valentine's Day and not just with your significant other. Everyday our world should be celebrating love and taking the time to love by showing kindness and grace to everyone who crosses our path.
We plan to have a Family Valentine's Day. We are doing take out tonight to enjoy over candlelight and then have a family movie night planned. Jaret is choosing the movie and treating us with his iTunes card he got for Valentine's Day. What a great start to our Family Day weekend!
Happy Valentine's Day!
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