Valentine’s Day

Ahh…the holiday that celebrates love!  This is the flower shop’s busiest day.  Many people think roses, chocolate and cupid.  How about you?  What does this holiday make you think of? 

When I was single, I thought it was silly holiday.  I laughed at all the balloons that filled the cars going by.

My first Valentine’s Day with my husband, I loved the roses that were sent to me at work and the weekend getaway.

Nine years later, I feel that he should save the money from the roses.  They will eventually die.  I’d rather have the house cleaned, the laundry done, or supper cooked would be nice! 

Ha!  Over the years my thoughts on this holiday have changed.  Don't get me wrong, I still love the romantic side of my husband, but why do we reserve one day a year to tell people we love them?  Shouldn’t this be every day?

And on this “Love” holiday, don’t forget the One who showed you His love by dying a painful death on a wooden cross.

John 3:16 (NIV) “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Wishing you a happy Valentine’s Day and the love of our Savior!

Why Worry?

As my family and I ate breakfast last Sunday morning, we glanced out the window to see the frost covered ground.  Littered on the frost were birds.  We watched as they pecked the ground.  I decided this was a very teachable moment and began to explain to my children how the Lord provides for birds.  I mentioned the Bible says if God provides for the birds, He will surely provide for us.  Tad replied, “because we are a lot bigger than them!”  Well, you see, Tad did not fully understand the lesson.  However, I have pondered it often this week.

Do we fully understand?  Because if we did, would we worry like we do?

Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?”

Wow!  I don’t think this is a command, but an invitation…an invitation to rest in the arms of our Heavenly Father!  

Honestly, how many times have you stood in front of your closet fretting over what you would wear?  I know I have.  It wasn’t because I didn’t have any clothes; it was because I didn’t think they were stylish enough or the perfect thing for a certain event. 

Have you ever invited company for dinner and spent extremely too much money and time preparing because you were worried it wouldn’t be perfect?  Yep, I’ve done that also, when I probably had something suitable in my pantry!  

In the scheme of life, these examples of worrying are very small.  So, why do we let ourselves get worked up over such miniature details?

As we go through the next week, let’s focus on today’s allowance and be content.  Enough for today is all we can enjoy anyway!  My refrigerator may not have the exact cut of beef I desire, but there is food.  My closet may not have this season’s fad, but there are clothes. 

Thank you Lord for teaching me to be content with the blessings you have bestowed upon me.  Help me to forgo worrying and instead rest in your promises! Amen