My Valentine
God says , “ Love is patient and kind…it doesn’t envy or boast and it’s not proud. It’s not rude or self-seeking, nor is it easily angered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs or even delight in evil…but it rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres. Love never fails.” ( 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ) We throw out “I love you”s like they were beads at Mardi Gras parades … but do we really prove true with our actions ? Yeah…Valentine’s Day is officially the “day of love” … and couples will be spending that hard-earned money on flowers, candy and stuffed animals…not to mention the jewelry and the night-out meal. It’s the same ol’ song-and-dance … the restaurants and retailers get richer, while we watch our weight go up and our pocketbooks get lighter … all because we’re trying to do what everybody else is doing. What about the other 364 days of the year ? Are we gonna love that significant other any less than we do on “Valentines Day” ?!? We better not ! If i asked you how you stacked up against God’s list of is’s and is not’s in these five verses, how would you rate yourself ? Better yet, how would your significant other rate you ? Are you lovingly patient with him/her…does your kindness still attract her/him to you ? You don’t see them as a rival or look at them as competition; do you ? Are you still proud of them…proud to be with them and proud for people to know they are “yours” ? Do you still brag on em…like you used to ? Ladies, do you allow them to open doors for you and be the gentleman they were designed to be ? Men, do you still treat them like the gift from God that they are … opening their door, pumping their gas and allowing them the privilege of NOT having to take the leadership role of your home ? When you get angry, do you immediately ask God to keep you from sinning against Him…until that anger subsides ? Please tell me you don’t keep bringing up his/her “past” ! It’s just another tool of Satan that he uses to cause pain and division…to relive shame and regret…and it DOES NOT GLORIFY GOD one iota ! When they start to say or do something that goes outside God’s boundaries … something that promotes or invites trouble or hate…do you lovingly redirect their brief lapse in holy behavior ? Do you use God’s own words to realign their hearts ? Do you stand up for her, husband/boyfriend … not allowing Satan a foothold…or anyone to treat her as less than God sees her ? Wife/girlfriend, do you instinctively go to his side when others try to tear him down or discredit him ? Do you still pray for him/her every day … asking God to mold them into His image even more … to give them everything they’ll need to honor and glorify Him ? Do you still have the dreams and hopes of tomorrow, “for yall”, because your hope is still found in Christ Jesus, your Lord ? Don’t let Satan rob you of the hopes, joys, peace and happiness that’s found only in a relationship with Jesus Christ ! Your wife/husband/ boyfriend/ girlfriend deserves the BEST from you ! Let’s all of us ask Him to “love” others through us … that way, they’ll get to experience “love”, the way God designed it to be ! Happy Valentines Day yall ! Sorry … i didn’t get you no candy or flowers 😁 .