February 14 brings out many feelings in people.
Valentine’s Day is a day to express love and affection to that special person. We give everything from heart-shaped cards and chocolate candy to flowers and romantic dinners. Some even give marriage proposals.
For me, it evokes memories from childhood. Growing up, my dad always bought Mom flowers, a large heart-shaped box of Whitman sampler chocolates, and a beautiful card. My sister and I always got a smaller heart-shaped box of chocolates with Charlie Brown on the cover. I still remember how special I felt because we got a box of chocolates.
Dad’s example of a father’s love was even more beautiful since he grew up without his father. While my grandmother was pregnant with my daddy, her husband died. However, my grandmother, who was a true believer in God and a born-again Christian, raised my daddy to love Jesus. She read to him from the Bible and told him stories of Noah and the flood and Adam and Eve and taught him what it was like to be truly loved—just as God loves His children.
John was part of Jesus’ inner circle and often called the “apostle of love.” He knew firsthand how it felt to be loved by Jesus.
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we become a part of God’s kingdom and one of His children. God loved us first, and John was passionate about that truth. He referred to himself as “the one whom Jesus loved.”
Regardless of whether we grew up with a loving father, we can still experience true love from God our Savior. When we do, we open our hearts to a love that lasts for eternity.
Would you consider becoming a part of God’s family? If you already are, what do you enjoy about being in His family?
(Photo courtesy of pixabay and JillWellington.)
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Lisa Holley is a wife of thirty-five years, mom, and grandma, currently living in beautiful historic Jonesborough, Tennessee. In her free time, she enjoys writing Christian devotions while sharing her unique family history. She is a part of a local creative circle of writers group and a certified story collector.