Finding the perfect love.

Valentine’s Day was approaching and I didn’t know how to tell hubby. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. And I definitely didn’t want to seem ungrateful.

I gave a huge smile. “Honey,” I said with hesitation in my voice, “roses are great. They smell nice. But I don’t even know they’re there.” (Obvious drawback of being blind.)

My sweet guy (you can see him on this picture) agreed. But when I related this episode to a friend, she said, “If my husband would send me flowers, our marriage would be over.”

What? That didn’t make any sense to me. So I asked her, “Why?”

“Because I’d drop dead,” she said.

Funny, isn’t it? The variety of ways we view gifts. We vary in our expectations, our desires and our preferences.

But God had only one preference. He had one motive. And He planned one way to show His love to your
And me—even when undeserving of that love, He went on with His plan.

In fact, when the unlovable in us appeared before Him, He still poured His love. When the prideful us dashed right by Him, His love still followed us. When the bitter us disregarded His presence, His passion still burned with unconditional love.

And even when we chose not to love Him, “God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

Father, I confess there was a time I felt unworthy to receive the love you offer. But when I opened my heart to you, your pure love erased the fear that paralyzed me, the insecurity that clouded my days and the uncertainty that brought worry into my nights. Gratitude is written all over the Valentine’s card I signed for you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

• What does love mean to you?
• How do you receive God’s love for you?
• How has God expressed His love for you lately?