I remember celebrating Valentine's Day in elementary school. I won the prize in fifth grade for the most eloquently fashioned Valentine's box, complete with pink satin and garnished with red hots. The school day convened with an entourage of homeroom mothers handing out sprinkled cookies. At a young age I was groomed well in the virtue of love.
But when I was in my early thirties, that day of love became a day of dread. Now the once Valentine's Day dream of a husband and pink carnations became a stark reminder of the invisible sign I wore: "No one chose me to be their valentine." Sound familiar? But God can transcend those lonesome thoughts to a higher plain. You might not be "in love" but you can "live love" by practicing the principles of 1 Corinthians 13. It's a passage that stops me dead in my tracks every time I read it. It's one of those passages that demands a candid and often times painful examination. Paul spoke of this living love as agape love, Christlike love.
So what's the most significant demonstration of charity you can give this Valentine's season? Here it is: (and while you're at it, replace the word love with your own name and notice how personal it suddenly becomes!)
Love is patient. (Pam is patient.)... She can endure inconveniences or irritations without indignation. She can handle injustice with grace and is able to remain calm-spirited when wronged.
Love is kind. She is benevolent toward others. She not only seizes opportunities to be helpful but searches for them by preferring the welfare and satisfaction of others.
Love is not jealous. She is not insolent over the good fortune of another nor does she want what she doesn't have. Others' blessings by God only add to her personal joy.
Love is not conceited. She does not think more highly of herself than she ought. She recognizes any good she contains comes solely by God's grace, love, and power.
Love does not behave unbecomingly. She displays courtesy without censuring the conduct of others. Her assignment is to display what God looks like.
Love is not easily exasperated. She's able through the Holy Spirit's enablement to restrain from lashing out or exerting a sharpness of temper.
Love thinks no evil. She is not inclined to charge a guilty verdict upon another. The sins of others bring her grief not sport or delight.
Love rejoices in the truth. She's glad to see others conform to the instruction of God's Word and desires for her own life to be shaped by it.
Love bears all things. She puts up with injuries without indulging in gossip or cherishing revenge. She does not publish the faults, shame, and reproach of others.
Love believes all things and hopes all things. She hopes well. She stretches her faith hearing these words in the distance, "Well done thy good and faithful servant."
Christlike love! It's an abiding kindness that works from the inside out! Oh dear single moms, let's dress ourselves in it. It's our all purpose garment that proves we're daughters of the King!
You're ever so close at HEART,
Pam
See Pam's blog about a true story of self sacrificing love - "Siamese Twins' Love" http://www.pamkanaly.com | 
