I love
loving the people who are special to me.
I love all things
sweet and sappy and sentimental. I love red puffy hearts and pink shiny
bows and glittery Valentine cards. I love heart-shaped pancakes in the morning,
heart-shaped sandwiches at lunch and heart-shaped pizzas for dinner. I love
presents covered in heart wrapping paper and red heart-shaped chocolates.
I love all the
tangible and intangible ways I can show my kids and my husband my unending and
unconditional love for them.
Valentine’s Day
is a holiday created with me in mind.
However…
It can be so easy
to get wrapped up in the sweet celebration of love for each other that we
forget where all this love really came from.
We
love each other because He first loved us. — 1 John 4:19
Valentine’s Day
doesn’t have to be just about us. If we are as intentional about loving Him as
we are about loving each other, the whole day can still bring glory to the
Creator.
Whatever
is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the
lights in the heavens. — James 1:17
4 Ways to Honor God on Valentine’s Day
1. Make a list of the ways He
has shown His love for you. The book An “I Love You” Prayer is a perfect
starter for this activity, whether you do it by yourself or with your kids. Go
broad – see God’s love for you through the bird singing outside your window or
the kitty purring in your bed. See His love through the little arms hugging
your neck and the heat in your home on a cold morning. Doing this with your
kids would be especially sweet (at least it would be for me) because you could
learn the good and perfect things they see in the world. You
could simply make lists on notebook paper. Or you could make hearts and hang
them on a piece of poster board. Or each member of your family could write
their list on a separate piece of colored paper or on a large paper or poster
with a different color marker (think pinks, purples, reds, and silver).
2. Do good in the world. One year I shared in a blog a
list of 13 ways that kids can do good.
Every single one would be perfect for Valentine’s Day because you’re sharing
God’s love with those in need. This is my very favorite Bible verse:
Never
walk away from someone who needs help; for you may be the hand of God to that
person. — Proverbs 3:27 (from The Message)
Be His hands and
share His love with someone else.
3. Read God’s Love for You Storybook together. Better
yet, copy passages from it and tuck them into places where strangers will find
them. In my church, the youth group goes on ATLs. That’s short for Ask the
Lord. They begin by praying together. Then they get into a car and drive
wherever they feel led. They stop wherever they feel led to stop, and they do
something. Sometimes, they knock on a door and ask to pray with someone.
Sometimes, they help people the do a task. I’ve even heard of them stopping
strangers on the street and asking if they can pray with them. Do your own mini
ATL by asking the Lord where you should leave your little love notes. Maybe one
should go in between two boxes on a grocery store shelf, in the cover of a
magazine in a waiting room, or on a public bulletin board. Let Him lead you to
leave blessings for someone to find by divine appointment. (Can’t get the book
in time? Copy Bible verses on notecards and do the same thing.)
4. Love each other. Love is a verb. Love your loved ones.
Call your parents and in-laws. Go out of your way to serve your children and
celebrate them today. Do something special for your spouse. You don’t have to
go all out like I do, but let your family see the love of Jesus reflected
through you.
So
now I am giving you a new commandment: Love one another. Just as I have loved
you, you should love one another. — John 13:34
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