Rule # 72: Remember Valentine’s Day
Love is patient. It does not envy, it does not boast, its 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. – Corinthians 13:4-7
I’m not a heavy bible reader, but I find myself going back to Corinthians time and again for direction and guidance in this confusing world. I believe it was written by Paul and was covering the important issues that the early church would face. I think it also makes sense that one of the topics would be the definition of love.
Not just any type of love, but love inspired by the love of God, how God loves us.
I think its critical that the first thing He says about love is that love is patient.
I just got another panic call from my Dad dealing with the effects of the strokes and brain surgery, he was yelling about another fear ( imaging people hurting him, feeling that people forgot him) and telling me he feels alone. He is irrational and sometimes mean at these times, and I went back to that bible passage and was reminded..love is patient. So I listened and calmed him.
Today is Valentines day and I realized the woman I love most was going to get little from me because of my time with my Dad, a major storm and me being sick with bronchitis. But I realized that she loves me and she is patient.
I think its important to celebrate love, and Valentine’s day is an important time to really think about what love is… its a day that needs to be celebrated.
I’m not talking about the flowers, gifts and dinners because they will all come out of love. I’m talking about love in the way God was teaching us, the way that inspired the passage in Corinthians. I am asking you to take the time on Valentine’s day to really ask yourself the same question that Paul was answering…what is love in your life.
Are you patient, are you kind? Are you keeping score or letting things go?
Asking yourself these hard questions, and making yourself reach deeper inside to find the honesty and purity of love in others. I think its a time to reflect on how you love and how you are being love by others. Valentine’s day is a time to refocus on the truths in your life and to steer away from evil in your life.
I want you to understand the fullness of what love can be your life and find others to experience it with completely. I think we can love many people in our lives, but the true connections of patience, kindness and truth are exceedingly rare and should be celebrated.
And like this year, on the rare occasions you can not send the card or gift that one that you love, will find patience and kindness to make you feel the fullness of love.
It is a blessing to love and to be loved, celebrate it everyday!
And Princess I am truly blessed…Thank you!!