Last night Jay and I took Jake and Andrew out for a special V-Day dinner. We let the boys select the location and we were not surprised when they picked I-Hop. My boys think I-Hop is the best place in town. Jay and I think I-Hop has the best deal in town--- all you can eat pancakes for $4.99!
When we arrived at I-Hop, I was surprised that we were seated next to a table with 10 college girls. The restaurant had plenty of open seating but we were escorted to the long bench seating at the front of the restaurant. Because we were seated so close, it was impossible not to hear the conversation going on at their table. I will be honest. I was curios to hear the topic of their conversation. It was apparent to me that these 10 (super cute) girls did not have V-Day dates. As a result, the girls decided to get together and share a meal. This fact made me love these girls from the very beginning!
As both tables waited for food, lots of conversation took place. I talked with Jay and the boys. At the same time, I listened to the conversation going on beside me. The topic--- favorite V-Day gifts. One by one, the girls shared favorite gifts or memories for years past. It was neat to hear the things that had meant so much to each of them.
Soon the meals arrived and I watched as these precious girls bowed their head and thanked God for the food and the sweet time of fellowship. I was amazed at the spiritual sensitivity these young girls displayed. It was apparent to me that these girls knew that God had granted them a sweet time together even though it was not the traditional way to spend V-Day.
Our family wrapped up our meal and headed out to the car. Once in the car, I had a box of Russell Stover's candy waiting in the front seat. I opened the box and told the boys that we were going to share one person that we love and why we love them. Then I passed out the candy. The conversation went like this:
Andrew, "I love dad." Why, "Dad wrestles with me."
Jake, "I love mom." Why, "Mom gave birth to me."
Jay, "I love Andrea." Why, "Andrea is my Valentine."
Andrea, "I love Jesus, Jay, Jake, and Andrew." Why, "Because all of you have changed my life."
As we drove home and enjoyed our chocolate, my thoughts returned to the 10 college girls that we encountered at I-Hop. I prayed for them as we drove. I thanked God that they appeared to know Him by taking time to pray before their meal. I also prayed that they would know and experience real love in their lives. Not the kind of love that comes only in the form of a warm fuzzy feeling in the pit of their stomach, but also the kind of love that changes their life. The kind of love that NEVER fails.
Jesus gave each of us a chance to know and experience real love that NEVER fails when He died on the cross. Because of Jesus' act of obedience to the Father and love for us, we can know this unfailing love. This unfailing love sticks by your side through thick and thin. This unfailing love gets stronger as the years go by. And, this unfailing love changes everything about the way you live your life. Not only can we experience and know this unfailing love, because of Jesus' act of love, we can express this unfailing love to those in our lives. What a wonderful truth! We can stick by someone's side through think and thin. We can express love that grows stronger and stronger each day. And, we can offer love to someone in such a way that their life is forever changed.
Yes, real love, God's love, is unfailing. Today, because of Jesus, you can receive real love and then turn around and give real love away. My friend, love NEVER fails! This week I want to challenge you to evaluate the type of love that reside in your heart. Read 1 Corinthians 13 and ask the Lord to teach you how to live a life of love--- that never fails!
Love! Love!
Andrea @ TVM
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