Jan 23, 2017
By Donna VanHorn
Hallmark didn’t invent Valentine’s Day. But the greeting card giant, along with thousands of other retailers, has figured out over the years how to profit big-time from the February holiday’s sentimental theme. It is estimated this nation’s consumers, in 2016, spent a record $19.7 billion in honoring their special someone. A breakdown shows $147 was spent by each of those actually making Valentine purchases (candy, cards, flowers, jewelry, dinner dates were the top five categories). I’ve benefitted from some of my husband’s most ingenious, and more often simple but thoughtful, Valentine gifts. Why wait for an annual holiday? I hope we all make it a daily priority to remind our spouse, children and close friends how much we love them.
I do wonder, though, how often we tell God how much we love Him. Not only in our prayer time, but also in our relationships with those around us. I can’t think of a better way to show Him how much we love Him than by telling others in our daily walk what God has done for us — and by stepping up to serve those who have special needs only we can meet.
The Old Testament’s King David is described as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). He authored a huge part of the Book of Psalms, and many of those psalms are love poems in tribute to a God he loved and obeyed. David wasn’t perfect; none of us are. But he knew to whom he owed his life — and his forgiveness — and he wrote love notes to thank God for that grace. Why should we do anything less?
Psalm 18:1-2: “I love you, oh Lord my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
For information about Donna’s devotional book, Tune God In: Your Heart’s His Receiver, visit her website at www.tunegodin.com