By Beryl Williams

I thought I would go back and look at my column for February of 2019, so I didn’t write the same article this year. I’m glad I did because it was the same theme that I was thinking about for this year.

Focusing on loving our sweethearts and those less fortunate than ourselves. As I thought about the theme of love this month, I asked myself “What other love is there to focus on?” Then I thought, “Hey dummy! How about the most sacred love that there is in the entire world?”

That is, the love that our Lord has for us. It is almost impossible to truly wrap our minds around the depth of it. 1 John 4:16 says “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.” Just the fact that He created this earth exclusively for us and for our pleasure can send us reeling. Really stop, take a minute and think about that truth alone. If you have any doubts about what I am saying, read the first few chapters of Genesis. It describes the whole creation process and when he was finished, what did he do? He put man and woman right in the middle of this stunningly beautiful garden. What an amazing display of love for humans and that means you and me!

And then, I could write a book about the giving of the perfect gift of His son, just for us. Showing us the deepest love in offering what was also the most painful gift He could give. He did that so that we could have relationship with Him.

He is a relational God as Jesus demonstrated when He was here on earth. He loves it when we talk to Him and share our hearts and therefore deepen our relationship with Him. Jeremiah 29:12,13 confirms that by saying, “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

In this month of love, we should devote time to pondering the deep and abiding love that he has for you and for me. We need to remember that it is his love that makes it possible for us to love others. Sharing that love is something we are called to do. John 15:12 says, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

So, it is my hope and prayer for you, that you not only dwell on the reasons you love your sweetheart and show your love and appreciation for those things accordingly. But also, that you spend time meditating on our father’s great love for you and that those thoughts bring you closer to him and experiencing his love in new and deeper ways.