February is the Month of Love

January 2009 has come and gone already and now we are into February.  Did anyone else feel
like they had been knocked over by a tornado last month?  My family is still recovering from
a month of celebrations, family, and travels.

February is a great month.  It brings us Groundhog's Day and President's Day, Valentine's Day
and my birthday!  Calendars often assign February the color pink, for love.  Roses are a tad
less expensive than usual.   Candy is everywhere.  People everywhere make declarations of love. 
The stores are filled with sappy cards extolling the virtues of love.

Paul gives us a message about love in 1 Corinthians 13.  Many of us have those verses read
at our weddings or on plaques in our homes.  Paul tells us that love is the most important thing,
and that without love we are nothing and can do nothing.  Without love, all of our efforts with our
family, our children, and our friends would mean nothing for the Lord.  Love is what sets us
apart from the world, and is how the world sees Christ in us.  It is a choice to live a life of love for
all to see.  It is also a challenge.

"Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head, 
Doesn't force itself on others, 
Isn't always 'me first,'
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end."
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 The Message Translation

How might we live out these verses in our day to day lives?  I struggle daily to place my families
needs above my own desires.  I envy other people when I should be wholeheartedly happy for
their blessings.   I've been known to "fly off the handle" with my children and husband for little
reason other than the time of my cycle.   How often have I held on to grudges or been gleeful
when someone else struggles?  Perhaps instead of losing my temper, I need to take a deep breath
and gently explain how I feel when someone offends me, offering loving forgiveness. I need to
refrain from saying hurtful things to or about someone else.  A small show of love is simply
taking a few minutes to play with my kids before I get on the computer to send that email, or at
least a moment to let them know that I will be with them as soon as I press send.  I can show my
love for God by trusting Him and knowing that He loves me and wants to use all things for
my benefit.  

Love will help me through the tough times, and we all know that as mothers of preschoolers there
are tough times every day!  I am trying to live out these verses everyday, and not just for my
husband who listened to them with me on our wedding day.  I am trying to show my children love
the way Jesus loves me: unconditional, unselfish, and unending love.  I want others to see the love
of Jesus Christ in me and want that love for themselves and to give that love to others.  I pray that
each of you will find a moment to really read 1 Corinthians 13 and challenge yourselves to lead a
life of love, one moment at a time.