They burst into the kitchen, their young faces flush with excitement. “We have a GREAT idea!” they said. “We’re going to make Valentines for everyone in the neighborhood!”
“Um, ok.” I said, incredulous. “That’s a….good idea..??”
With amazed and delighted disbelief I watched my daughter and her friend follow through on this loving, joyful impulse. In the unusually warm weather, they spent all of Sunday afternoon sitting on our front porch making Valentines for neighbors, most of whom they don’t know, taking breaks now and then to run off with exuberance for “deliveries.” If the recipient was a friend, he or she received the card face-to-face. If not, the Valentines were left in the house mailbox, one from each girl, sweetly signed with only their first names. In a span of 4 hours, the girls industriously covered our little section of the world, 4 tiny streets, with love.
We were all conceived by the One who loves like this – with abandon. But somewhere along the way, we usually acquire a harder-hearted response – the one that I showed yesterday – to love, freely given. Lord, open my eyes today. Help me to see all the ways you love me. Help me share your everlasting love with the world.
Many waters cannot quench love,
Nor will rivers overflow it;
If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love,
It would be utterly despised.
– Song of Solomon 8:7
