The warmth of Jesus’ presence is so satisfying. It is so sweet to hear Him whisper for you to come away alone with Him for a while. In silence and in song, there is no place so loving as His embrace. Why do we come back to our day to day lives? Not because His love loses its comfort, but because we cannot bear to see others without this same love.
Valentine’s Day has become a special time with Jesus for me. Previously, Anna and Tai have given us some great advice on how to keep Jesus as the center of your Valentine’s Day, even if you’re single. When our cup begins to overflow, and we see His heart and His eyes of compassion, what can we do but share it? Valentine’s Day has such a strong focus on love and sweetness, that it can also end up highlighting pain and loneliness in our lives and the lives around us. What an opportunity to share the love of Jesus.
Whom do you have in your life that might need a touch of Jesus’ love?
The first people that came to mind for me are single moms. Being single at all on Valentine’s Day can be tough. A single mom carries a great deal of responsibility for the little hearts she holds, but it is not always easy for her to have those heart-to-heart conversations of her own. This could be for any number of personal or practical circumstances. Perhaps there is a single mom near you who could use a ray of Jesus’ joy in her life.
Even if you don’t know someone very well, flowers can be a sweet reminder that she is loved. God didn’t have to finger-paint the plants in order for them to thrive, but He just loves to delight our hearts. Can you believe how many beautiful things He has made?
In the same way, receiving the gift of flowers can bring so much light into a busy or stressful day. They can be such precious windowsill reminders of God’s love.
It might take you out of your comfort zone to give flowers to someone if you don’t know her well, but don’t underestimate how much of a blessing a sincere smile can be. It often touches people’s hearts more than they show it, and it certainly blesses Jesus to see His daughter sharing His heart with the ones He loves.
If you know her well, you may be in a position to take her out for coffee, lunch, or on a shopping trip. You might even know her well enough to surprise her with a favorite latte at work, or to set up a chance for her to get a manicure.
Don’t forget the kiddos! Every mom is different, and every phase of parenting every child is different. Some moms might need a chance to regroup before they get back to tying shoes and giving goodnight kisses. Maybe she might like some one-on-one adult conversation, and appreciate the offer to baby sit while she catches up with a friend. Other moms might have the best Valentine’s Day ever taking a packed lunch to the park or sharing laughter with her kids and her friends over ice cream. Sometimes the best way to let a friend know that Jesus loves her is to show her that He loves her kids.
Keep close to Jesus in prayer as you consider what Valentines He might call you toward. Every situation is different, but He will lead you where He means for you to be His light, even if that means spending more time alone with Him before He tells you how His love will overflow through you. Even so, don’t be afraid to share a smile and a loving word with those around you. A little love can go a long way.
Part 2 of this serial will be available next week. In the meantime, how has the Lord blessed you when you were lonely, Valentine’s Day or otherwise? Have you ever followed His direction to show love to someone even though you were nervous? Send us a message or let us know in the comments. We absolutely love hearing from you!
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