My front porch swing.

“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”

                                                          I Corinthians 13:13

Walk into any store this time of years, and you’ll see hearts everywhere, from candy boxes to lockets to cellophane wrappers on flowers to banners hanging over displays of merchandise. We’ve been conditioned by our society to measure our love by the tangible gifts we give.

“Fill us with your love every morning. Then we will sing and rejoice all our lives.”

                                                         Psalm 90:14

I love giving and receiving gifts, and enjoy the burst of pleasure in knowing someone cares enough to pamper me. But I clearly understand that the true test of love lies in the intangibles. A smile. A kind word. A thoughtful act. A compassionate and loving spirit. Steadfast goodness.

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”

                                                       Proverbs 3:3

While we mark special occasions on a calendar, we live from day to day. We cope with the problems that bombard us both personally and in the world around us. When life becomes too hard, we are blessed if we have family and friends we trust, the steadfast ones who advise without judgement and love unconditionally. We are blessed if we have God in our hearts, the source of all love.

“Lord, you are good. You are forgiving. You are full of love to all who call out to you.”

                                                       Psalm 86:5

My prayer for all of us is that we love God as deeply as he loves us. I pray that His love will overflow our hearts and spread throughout our homes, our communities, our country, and our world.   

God is good!

Peggy