When I was in grade school (the “olden days!”), Valentine’s Day was a BIG DEAL. Preparations began weeks ahead when we decorated a big box with hearts and doilies and ribbons meant to collect all the valentines that we students would craft at home and bring in. In those less enlightened days, we only gave them to friends — not to everyone in the class. Some kids ended up with big piles on their desks while others only had a few and some kids only got the one that the teacher gave to everyone… OUCH!
Even as a child, that seemed so WRONG to me — the opposite of what true love is .
Contrast that with GOD’S VALENTINE to every single one of us…
Dear One…
I ADORE YOU.
Not because of anything you DO, but simply because you are my child.
I love you because you are YOU — and your name is engraved on my heart!
I created you — as I create EVERY SINGLE PERSON (no exceptions) — in my OWN image…
Sooooo — each one of you in this world— no matter who you are, where you live or what you look like — sees MY face when you look in the mirror.
The world often tells us that we can never be enough … (sometimes we are guilty of telling ourselves this too)… Or that love has to be earned… or that nothing can make up for a bad decision in the past… or that we are just unlovable.
“NOT TRUE!!!“ says God.
“I sent you the ultimate Valentine in Jesus — who embodied my love, taught my love, shared my love, WAS my love…
For the last several months, the choir has been learning a new anthem which speaks of the amazing love of God — the Love which “will not let us go…”
It is truly exquisite arrangement (composed by Elaine Hagenberg) of the poem “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go” written by George Matheson in the 1800’s. (click here to listen…)
Matheson, a Scottish clergyman, hymn writer and prolific author wrote the text on the eve of his sister’s wedding. Years before, he had been engaged to be married as well, but when he discovered he was going blind, his fiancée broke the engagement. While he was attending seminary, his blindness became total and through the years his sister cared for him. Her wedding brought back memories of his own heartbreak and he poured out his feelings in the form of this poem — in a mere five minutes. The first and third verses (there are four in all) read as follows:
“O love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee.
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be.”
O Joy that seekest me through pain
I cannot close my heart to thee.
I trace the rainbow through the rain and feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be…”
Look inside the Valentine box of your heart…
♥️ God’s LOVE is always there. ♥️