Thursday thoughts: God is love

At our house this week, the focus is on Valentine's Day. When you have younger children in your home, they are all about the cards and candy.

I have to say I probably was too at some point in my life. My husband and I were high school sweethearts. Our very first date was on Valentine's Day when I was in the 10th grade. Wayne sent me flowers with a stuffed teddy bear and gave me chocolates. He then took me to the "circus."

Looking back, maybe that was a clue of what my future life would look like: charming creative chaotic craziness. Let's just say, our life stays interesting.

I have, however, thought about love in light of it being Valentine's week. Wayne and I dated for about four years before we married, and this June we will celebrate our 48th anniversary. I thought I would give you a short acrostic on LOVE with some lessons and traits I have learned you need to practice over the years—not just in marriage but in life. The main thing I have learned is that God is love and without God there is no true love.

L - Lasting Loyalty - On our wedding invitations, we had the verse from Ruth 1:16 "Do not urge me to leave you or return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God." This is a lasting loyalty. It is choosing to remain committed to the people God brings into your life. It's continuing to serve others even in times of difficulty. It is respecting the other person by remaining faithful and devoted through the ups and downs of life. It's a lasting loyalty that only God can provide and sustain because God is love.

O - Open and Optimistic - Being open is just being honest. That is being honest about your feelings, your needs, your disappointments, your joys, and just your life in general. Optimism is hoping or wishing for the best possible outcome. While that is not a negative trait, it is actually not always the way life turns out. Biblical optimism is not based on wishful thinking. It is the hope we have because of our faith in God. It's believing you will see the sun after a storm. It's knowing that God is in control even when life seems out of control. A marriage requires honesty, but it also requires you to build the other person up by reminding them that we have hope when times are tough. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." We have freedom to be open, honest, and have hope because God is love.

V - Voice Value - I don't know about you, but it seems the world we live in now is wrapped up in devaluing anything and everything. It is so important that we voice value to those around us. When you think about the fact that Jesus died for everyone, then you know that everyone has value. Actually, that which is valued and esteemed is honored. When we honor someone, we pray for them, we are careful how we speak to them and about them, and we want the best for them. We need to not only show others they are honored but also audibly voice to them that they have value. Voicing Value is showing honor, and we can accomplish this because God is love.

E - Extend Empathy and Encouragement - How easy it is in our busy days to forget to extend empathy and encourage others. Both of these traits are so important in relationships, whether marriage, friendship, or people you come in contact with on a daily basis. Empathy is being moved by the distress or suffering of another and having the desire to relieve it for them. It is showing care and concern for someone who is hurting. Romans 12:15 says, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." The other trait we should extend is encouragement. I think we can all agree that life is tough at times. Biblical encouragement is communicating God's truth and hope in ways that would give them courage to do what is right, just, and fair in all situations. God provides all we need to extend empathy and encourage others because God is love.

On this Valentine's week, I pray you know the God who is always loyal, honest, provides hope, says you are valuable, and through His Word will extend empathy and give encouragement. He can do all these things and more because God is Love. 

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