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I lost a high school classmate a few days ago. Earlier in the year, a family member. Last year, another friend. It seems over the last year, I’ve lost more people in my life than I care to imagine. I loved these people, but loving them doesn’t prevent the loss.

For some, there’s no end to loss when days like Valentine’s Day roll around the corner to remind us. It doesn’t seem fair, and truth be known, it’s not. After all, love is supposed to be roses and chocolate. It’s supposed to be romance, a many-splendored thing.

Love doesn’t prevent loss, but it does stand for something more. Love stands for faithfulness, purity, hope, and commitment. If we even receive a portion of those things from those we’ve shared our hearts with, we can count ourselves fortunate.

Paul reminded us of the depth of love and loss when Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice (Ephesians 5:1). Jesus willingly and freely accepted death so that we might be made whole through Him. Forgiven, covered, redeemed. And yet His love for us came with loss: His life.

Paul calls us dearly loved children, which solidifies the depth of God’s love for us. For God to take that love a step deeper and allow the sacrifice of His only begotten Son proves He doesn’t want even one to be lost. Christ loved us so much that He gave His all. And when He spread His arms open on that cross, He was saying, “Come. Here I am. Open arms. Taking the blame for you.”

Humanity tends to hold on to the hurts of love, but Jesus took the hurt and pain and turned it into pure love.

On this Valentine’s Day, hold your loved one a bit tighter. Be joyful and grateful that you have that person in your life, then turn your gaze upward to the God who loved you more than life itself. Come to Him.