The Love Challenge

So it's almost Valentine's day, and the whole world has gone all mushy romantic.

Is it not true?

I mean, c'mon, everything, everywhere is either directly about or hinting at love. Hearts and flowers and candy (why does everyone associate candy with romance?) and love notes and cards and teddy bears and EEEEEEK! You can't escape it. People all over the globe are scheming perfect dates and special surprises...

I love Charlie Brown's Valentines...or rather, lack of Valentines. He never ever gets Valentines, and it always cracks me up. I've wished all my life that I could send him a Valentine, even though I don't have red hair. Isn't it just a little awful though, for someone to go through Valentines Day without being told that they're loved?

Did you know there's a difference between love and romance? I mean, it's pretty obvious when you stop and think about it, but have you ever thought about how special Valentine's Day can be, even if you don't have a "someone?"



I have a challenge for you.

I want to challenge you to make sure that every person you love gets told that you love them at some point this month. You say "oh that's easy" but stop for a minute. How many people do you love? Even if it's JUST your family and a couple best friends, when's the last time you told each and every one of them that you loved them?

And it gets harder...

I'm challenging you to also show Jesus that you love each of those people by loving them in ways that only He can see.

That basically means if you accept this challenge then you will have to find ways OTHER THAN saying it, or cards, or notes, or songs. How do you do that? I'll tell you.


Self sacrifice.

-Give up something you love so that someone else can have/use it.
-Let someone else be right, or win, even if you deserve the victory.
-Give true praise (not compliments) about something other than how someone looks, or what they own.
-Take time to stop and listen, and notice, and ask questions to show that you actually care about what's being said and done.
-Serve somone.
-Notice the things that are done that benifit you and show gratefulness for them.

These aren't things that people will watch you do and say "oh, she really love me!" But they are things Christ will see. They are things that He wants you to do, and things that He will reward.

So. Challenge? I dare you...