Happy Valentine’s Day! This is the day when romantic love is king in our society with flowers, candy, wine, dinners out or special dinners at home. Companies love this holiday. The stores have been packed with heart-adorned items of every kind. “I LUV U” in every form is printed on everything. I like romance, it’s a nice treat.
Tomorrow when you visit the store, Valentine’s Day items will be on the discount racks and clerks will be restocking the stores with Easter items. Easter baskets, stuffed animals and chocolate bunnies will be the new thing. The Cadbury Easter Bunny will be laying his chocolate eggs everywhere.
Between these two holidays, the true meaning of love and sacrifice has been trivialized. Love is so much more than romance. It’s facing the menial tasks and the momentous times with patience and giving. I’ve been married almost 52 years. Bob has been faithful. He has worked hard to support his family. I remember when our first child would suffer a kidney infection (10 in her first year) and run high fevers. I would be exhausted. Even though he worked a tough day, he’d get up in the middle of the night so I could get some sleep. He would walk the floor with her, sponging her with a cool cloth to help reduce the fever. He’s been there always. Not always good with romance, but always good at love.
The greatest display of love and sacrifice is seen in the life and death of our Savior. “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” [Eph 5:1-2]
God sent His Only Son, Jesus, to overcome every obstacle that separated us … sin, punishment, and death were His so that we might experience holiness, freedom and life. Resurrection Sunday is so much more than Easter baskets and the Cadbury Bunny. It is the greatest expression of love and sacrifice ever given. Let’s not lose sight of what true love is. Let’s imitate the life of love and sacrifice of our Father and His Son.
