I know there are differing opinions about Valentine's Day. As with most celebrated days it can hold a mix of fond memories and hurtful ones. One of my favourite memories growing up was coming to the breakfast table and finding a card from my dad. He always sketched one. It was usually made from the thin paper of one of those doodle pads. We probably wouldn't even find that kind of paper at the dollar store anymore! The card was given with a few chocolates that my mom had no doubt picked up. I loved the card for a couple of reasons. The first was that my dad meant the world to me. I loved everything he did. I love his drawings, especially of horses. I loved the way he taught us sports and played baseball and frisbee with us. The way he played board games with us, always letting us win. The way he tucked us into bed every night, prayed with us (always praying for God to prepare a spouse for us) and tried to teach us German! As I grew up I loved his faith in God. Even though we didn't always agree on everything, he taught me about the importance of loving generously, even when it was painful. He prayed constantly and took church seriously. He loved to worship and thank God for everything. He was simply a man of integrity. I loved every card he ever wrote me!
Another reason I loved the cards were because in my mind it wasn't conventional. Men didn't typically make things like that. At least I had never heard of it. That made it special. A keepsake!
I remember it being very hard the first time my dad disappointed me. God has ways of reminding us that no one will ever be able to satisfy like He does or love us like He does.
A couple of years ago I had another such reminder of human capabilities in the area of loving. I love Dave a lot. I am thankful for God bringing us together and for the commitment, the experiences and children and our love. It is a gift from God. Dave is my Valentine. I also believe that no one is ever to take the place of God in our lives. God's love is so much more than earthly love can be.
It was very clear to me a couple of years ago that I was depending far too much on Dave for too many things. It would be the first of many times that I would recall God asking me, "who is your God?".
Dave was going overseas for two weeks and I knew that I would be taking my own spiritual journey at home. I felt that I was to "let go" of the way I was loving Dave, not because something fatal was going to happen but because it was something I had to do if I was to walk in obedience to God. Throughout the weeks I began realizing that there was just no way that Dave would ever be able to or should ever have to fulfil all of the expectations that I was placing upon him. I'm sure a very freeing time for Dave!! I am learning that if God's love isn't my example and source it just isn't humanly possible to love well at all.
So however you remember the day, whether you celebrate the romantic holiday or wish it away; I know for certain there is a love out there for everyone of us that outlasts and outloves any of the best love we've known or given here.
I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Eph. 3:17b-18
Hi Nicole and ladies...
ReplyDeleteI was reflecting on the love of God during our last Bible Study. For those who never experienced the kind of love God intended from their earthly fathers, the love of God can be a very difficult and painful area to understand or even receive.
To those ladies I say keep on believing in that kind of love and ask God to transplant your heart with His love and not to look to the love that you experienced here on earth or the love that you may have never known.
As our table of ladies was sharing I had a moment of enlightening of God's love when I recalled seeing one of the ladies son the Sunday prior.
I shared that moment with the ladies and I would love to share it with you, how God wants us to love Him and how much He loves you.
I see the little boy in the foyer on Sunday with his daddy. He is so cute for being only 2 and dressed so smart in his dress pants and bow tie. He really melts my heart every time I see him. So when I saw him that Sunday I immediately smiled at him and said hi there. I began to engage him in conversation and asked him if he was here with his daddy.
Well I tell you the kid's eyes lit up and he beamed from ear to ear. His head immediately turned and looked up to his daddy standing right beside him. With an outstretched arm and eyes looking up adoringly he pointed to this man known as dad, and said "PAPA."
He was so filled with love and pride that it melted my heart. As we were sharing in Bible study the image came back to me and I shared with the mom what I witnessed with her son.
Is this not how God wants us to respond to Him when we talk about Him and share the love of God with others. To beam from ear to ear and to lovingly direct the other person not to ourselves but to the one who loves us better than anyone ever could. To our Papa. To Adonai, to our Father in Heaven.
That is the kind of love I want to fill my heart with this Valentine's Day and I pray that out of that overflow in my heart all the love would point back to the source of where it came.... My Father in Heaven..... My One and Only.....