From the Desk of a Geek: How Do I Love Thee

From the Desk of a Geek: 

How Do I Love Thee

Well here we are Valentine’s day 2021, so what better way to start my little encouraging devotion then to talk about some interesting Valentine’s Day facts..

There really isn’t any other day on earth like it.  If you just look at Valentine’s Day by the numbers, it boggles the brain a bit:

♥  $130.97 – The average estimated amount an individual will spend on Valentine’s Day.

♥  $224 million – The estimated number of roses grown for Valentine’s Day.

♥  $18.6 billion – The projected total amount Americans will spend for Valentine’s Day.

♥  $1.6 billion – The amount people will spend on candy

♥  $1.9 billion – The amount people will spend on flowers

♥  $4.4 billion – The amount people will spend on diamonds, gold and silver.

❤.....and finally over six million folks will propose on February 14th 

The word “love” might bring to mind a familiar phrase:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

On one episode of Jeopardy, the contestants couldn’t name the book of the Bible where these verses are written, but they recognized the words.

Many have heard these verses recited in wedding ceremonies or seen them written on Valentine’s Day cards. 

And they are found in 1 Corinthians 13, often called the “love chapter” of the Bible.

At a certain point, some might say 

1 Corinthians 13 has been quoted too much, which can cause words to lose their meaning. 

People might think, “Yeah, yeah, ok. ‘Faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love.’ I know. I’ve heard it all before.”

Others have heard someone say, “I love you,” but a happy ending didn’t follow. For some, the word “love” has been exhausted. 

That’s because if we read or speak beautiful words about love again and again, but do not do it with intention or understanding, then the words begin to sound like empty statements.

In fact, 1 Corinthians 13 teaches that people must connect to love, specifically the love of God, in order to live meaningful lives.

Valentine’s Day brings good news because–whether single, married, divorced, separated, or any other sort of status–people can connect to the best kind of love, God’s love.

This Valentine’s Day, remember that love is so much more than flowers and candy and cards.  It is even more than the deepest feelings you experience, because real love is expressed by unconditional commitment and unwavering dedication to our loved ones—which should be everyone!

Picture yourself as God’s living Valentine to a world that needs His love.

Lonnie