You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 

This is the great and foremost commandment. 

The second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 22:37-39 

Happy Valentine’s Day! I read a couple of differing accounts of how this day came to be. I don’t know which is true, all I know about it is that I do like chocolate! I googled this and discovered that in the United States alone, 2.4 billion dollars is expected to be spent for Valentine’s Day this year! Further, 27.4 billion dollars is expected to be spent for other Valentine’s Day treats like eating out, flowers and other gifts. All to let someone know we love them. On one day! Gave me pause to think about the remaining days of the year.

So I googled -what is love? Psychology Today had this to say:

Love is inherently free. It cannot be bought, sold, or traded. You cannot make someone love you, nor can you prevent it — not for any amount of money. Love cannot be imprisoned, nor can it be legislated. Love is not a substance, not a commodity, not even a marketable power source. Love has no territory, no borders, no quantifiable mass or energy output.

Wow! I love that definition. However we define love, candy may not be the best way to demonstrate that love, although I do like candy. And yet, we are commanded in scriptures to love. To love God, love others and here’s the kicker – love ourselves!

What?!?!? Love others as we love ourself.

So, how much do you love yourself? How much do I love myself? What kind of words do I call myself? Am I lining up my thoughts about myself with who God says I am? Or I am berating myself? Maybe I am misunderstanding this verse but it seems to me that if I can’t accept God’s love and opinion of me that I won’t be able to love others. I can’t give to others what I do not have. So with that in mind, let’s look at some of the words He calls us:

Long after the candy disappears and the flower fades and Valentine’s Day is just a memory, God’s word still remains, His love still remains and His desire that You embrace that love and His truth of who you are still remains. Can we begin today to see ourselves as He sees us and maybe, even begin to love our-self? I am having the kids I work with make a love note for themselves and many are struggling with writing words of love to their own heart. How about you, can you make a love note that speaks to love to your heart? I trying! I hope you are too!

Father, Your love is incomprehensible to me. I cannot fathom it. Mentally, I believe You love me because I trust in Your word. Help me to let that belief sink down into the deepest part of my being. When the words I speak over myself do not line up with Your words, help me to change that narrative, help me to receive Your love for me and give that love to others, I ask in Jesus’s name, amen.

I would love to hear from you. Please let me know if I can be praying for you as well.

pic credit: confectionerynews.com