Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, Your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O LORD. How precious is Your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of Your wings.
(Psalm 36:5-7)
As we approach the national holiday of love known as Valentine’s Day, we must pause to give thought to the meaning and actions of love.
When we look at the commercialism that goes with this holiday, there are mixed reactions. Merchants are giddy with joy because of sales. Husbands, boyfriends, wives, girlfriends, and friends try (and some desperately try) to find that perfect gift that says “I Love You.” It is the day when only the best will do. It is the day of flowers, candy, balloons, stuffed animals, and sometimes diamonds. It is the day of indulging in the most expensive, wonderful meal that is set with a romantic ambiance. Bad feelings are cast aside, arguments are forgotten, and expectations and anticipation are high. The atmosphere is simply euphoric!
But not all people feel euphoric about Valentine’s Day. There are some who would argue that Valentine’s Day is not a real holiday. They can’t see the value in spending a great deal of money for one day just to express their love to someone. The argument is that they show their love every day.
I polled several classes to get their thoughts on whether Valentine’s Day should be celebrated holiday. Most students felt like it should be a special day and reminisced about childhood Valentine’s exchanges with classmates and secret crushes. Others remembered how special they felt when Mom had a box of candy and a stuffed teddy bear for them. The general consensus was positive. However, when you send out a poll to high schoolers, expect some thoughts that are different from the majority. Some of the comments were endearing, but an exchange between two male students had the classroom erupting with laughter.
Male Student 1: “I don’t understand the hype behind this one day a year. I mean it’s one day.”
Male Student 2: “Man, come on. If you have a girlfriend or wife you know that you would have to get them something.”
Male Student 1: “Nope. Why should I go out and spend a ton of money when everything goes on sale the next day? That’s just throwing money away.”
Male Student 2: “Man, you better not ever get married.” (He shakes his head.)
Male Student 1: “Now explain to me why you are going to go out and spend all of this money. What’s in it for you?”
Male Student 2: “I am going to have a happy wife and not be relegated to the dog house. You, on the other hand, are never going to get a wife.” (He says this with great satisfaction.)
Male Student 1: “Well, when I meet a girl who agrees with me that Valentine’s Day is a waste of money and says that we should wait to buy Valentine’s Day gifts the day after, I will know with certainty that she is the one for me!”
The exchange left the class laughing and shaking their heads, but I asked the question that generated a discussion about defining love. I asked students to define what “everyday love” looks like. As I waited for answers and discussion, I thought about the answers that I might receive about defining the feeling of love, as well as, love in action. For some, the idea of taking out the trash, filling the car with gas, cleaning the bathroom, or mowing the grass would be symbolic actions of love. However all of these actions of love may be subject to change because of varying situations in life. Perhaps the relationship failed, schedules changed, or feelings have changed. If this happens, does your opinion of love become tainted or distorted?
Whether you are on a high point in life or at a low ebb, remember that Jesus loves you on a daily basis. His love doesn’t come with candy, flowers, stuffed animals, fancy dinners, or jewelry. His love comes constantly and without changes on a daily basis. There are times when life is not where we would like it to be as far as finances, careers, or relationships. With life comes disappointments, and sometimes disappointments can cause us to doubt, isolate, and feel unloved. Do not be discouraged because there is one love that is constant. We are shown and taught what love is in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, 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.
Isn’t it comforting to know that no matter how life may shift, the love of the Lord never changes? Dick and Mel Tunney’s lyrics captured love in “God’s Love Never Changes.”
God’s love never changes
His love never fails
When the world is shaken
We can put our faith in
Knowing that His love will never change.
So on this day, regardless of whether you’re single, married, or dating, we must remember where we find true, unconditional love. Jesus captures the truest essence of love in 1 John 4:7, “Dear friends, let’s love each other, because love is from God, and everyone who loves is born from God and knows God. The person who doesn’t love does not know God, because God is love.”
Copyright ©️ 2022 CrayDawg, Inc.
Coffee Reflections 