Happy Valentines Day 2014

What is love? 

This week we have spent a good deal of time preparing for Valentine's parties and celebrations.  Our preparations gave us a great opportunity to talk about what real love is like.  How can we show love to others? 1 Corinthians 13 offers a lovely description of God's love, how in turn we must love others.  This week we focused on St. Paul's description of love.  This morning, the chalkboard in our kitchen read:

I took special note that St. Paul describes love first of all as 'patient.'

As I momma, I always need to reflect on how I can be more patient!

A view from our valentine craft table earlier this week:

 And our prayer for family dinner tonight, courtesy of G-Bears wonderful school teacher:

A Valentine Prayer

by Francine M O'Connor

Dear Jesus, on this Valentine's Day

will you be my Valentine?

Will you take your special love,

and set it in this heart of mine?

When I feel alone and small 

and no one seems to notice me,

remind of your loving call,

'Let the children come to me.'

When I fight with my good friend

as even best friends sometimes do,

let your commandment be my light:

'Love one another as I love you.'

When I see someone hungry and poor 

remind me about the good I can do.

'Do for them,' says your Golden Rule,

'what you would have them do for you.'

When people are lonely or sick or sad,

and I am too busy to help or to see,

may I remember the words you said,

'What you do for them, you do for me."

G-Bear's Valentine basket.

Help me, Jesus, to be like you,

gentle and thoughtful and kind.

Then I will be your Valentine,

just as you will always be mine.

Our card from E-Bear and my roses from T

Have a  wonderful Valentine's Day!  May our love for each other be ever richer, deeper, 

and more like God's love for us.