A man on a plane sat down next to a beautiful young lady. She was the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen. It was love at first sight. He struck up a conversation with her, "Are you married?" "No," she said. "Are you engaged?" "No." "Are you dating anyone?" "No." "Why isn't a beautiful woman like you not dating?"

She replied, "I am looking for a man with certain qualities." He asked, "What kind of qualities are you looking for in a man?" She replied, "I like native American Indians. I love their skin color and high cheek bones. I also like Jewish men. Jewish men seem so brilliant and are financially successful. But I also like the good ole boys from the south, their southern drawl and the way they treat a woman. By the way, what's your name?" He answered, "My name is Geronimo Bernstein, but my friends call me Bubba."

 

At a recent Women's Emmaus Walk, a usual theme arose from one of the talks. "What's love got to do with it" became the answer to every question, the brunt of every joke and the response to every action from the Justifying Grace talk through the Closing.  So, for this Valentine month, I thought I would just reflect on "what love has to do with it." Unlike "Geronimo Bernstein better known as "Bubba," those of us who have experienced the love of God know that while love may produce a feeling, love it's self is not a feeling.

 

According to scripture, love is always seen as a decision. John 3:16 implies that because of God's great love for us, He made the decision to send His Son to die that we may have everlasting life. John 15:9 reads, "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love". This verse implies that Jesus has loved us with the love of God.  The word abide implies that a decision must be made to remain or stay in this love relationship. John 15:13 reads, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down his life for his friends." This verse implies we are capable of having great love. Not many of us true lovers of God, would hesitate to give our lives for someone we love. That is great love! Yet, according to this scripture, there is an even greater love and that love was demonstrated for us when Jesus Christ died for us on the cross. And that, Children of God, is "what love has to do with it." We love because Christ first loved us with a gift that just keeps on giving.

 

This Valentine why not give your loved ones a gift that doesn't really cost us anything financially, but that pays big dividends. A gift that will only cost you the time and energy required to ask Christ to love others through you.