1
Corinthians 13:1-3
If I speak in the tongues of men or
of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging
cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all
knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love,
I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to
hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Ah, sweet season of love! Valentine’s Day is among
us. This is the busiest season of the year for florist and rose vendors. Once
upon a time, I had a job where I was the only woman in the local area for the company.
I had a couple of side jobs, too; one was making & selling silk flower
arrangements. I would take orders from the guys at work…usually based on how
much money they wanted to spend on a V-Day gift for their wives. I also made up
several extras…I KNEW my guys at work. Indeed, on V-Day many would come
screeching into the parking lot after hours and run to my office hoping I had
something left. I was more convenient than going shopping…I had better prices,
too. Know your market…
It never failed to amaze me that these guys always put
off doing a small token ‘something’ for their beloved. It wasn’t like they
weren’t inundated with commercials on TV. They saw the arrangements I was allowed
to display at work for weeks in advance, yet running in at the last possible
moment they came, some with looks of desperation, some irritation and all with
frustration. My sympathies went out to the wives at home; most of the arrangements
were purchased to keep the guys out of trouble, not so much as a show of
affection. Questionable motives at best! Showing love through gestures of
giving was almost a foreign concept for some of the guys.
Scripture tells us we are to lead a lifestyle of giving
love. Giving love is not the same thing as giving gifts. Some people give gifts
easily, it’s the freely given love they struggle to share. For me, gifts are
nice but I’d rather have day-to-day expressions and acts of love than a holiday
gift. For others, it’s the receiving of the gift that makes them feel the love.
I have a friend that makes no bones about that being her love language. It’s not
the ‘thing’ she gets, it’s the knowing her man took the time to think about her,
consider what would delight her, seek out the special something…that’s the
whole love message to her, not the actual gift.
Regardless of where you stand on giving and
receiving of gifts, love is by far the greatest. It’s a universal gift, not
reserved for romantic holidays. It’s a gift to your neighbor when they need
help. It’s a hug for your mom ‘just because’, it’s spending and giving of
yourself to someone in a way that’s important to them even if it’s not your
thing…it’s a God’s thing.
M'Lynn
May your heart be filled with love from others as you pour it out to all around you! Happy Valentine's Day from Truth in the Morning and Truth in Love World Ministries.
No comments:
Post a Comment