Let Love be Genuine (real chocolate)
February 14, 2014
Mother’s Day is far and away the most popular day to place phone calls across the world, registering more calling traffic than any other holiday, including New Year’s and Valentine’s Day. Christmas boasts the most Hallmark card sales than any other holiday, with Valentine’s Day sales running a close second. However chocolate sales are second to none on Valentine’s Day, which is a tempting reason to make Valentine’s Day my favorite holiday! Sometimes chocolate can communicate as much, if not more, than a phone call or Hallmark greeting.
Valentine’s Day is celebrated around the world as a day to express one’s love for a sweetheart, family member, friend or even a pet. Many search for just the right words to say on this day and that search is made easier as many websites offer sage advice as to what to share with your loved ones. Even international business sites consider saying the right thing serious business! One site I visited categorized their suggestions into 3 areas: romantic, funny, and inspirational:
“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.” –William Shakespeare
“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” -Charles Schulz
“Love doesn’t make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.” – Franklin P. Jones
However, if we were to search God’s Word for the right way to express love to one another, we would find one straightforward, categorical command:
“Let love be genuine…”
Romans 12:9a
Our love for one another should look like God’s love for us. It should be genuine, without hypocrisy, without acting a part, without deceit and without masks. It should be true, authentic, real and both outwardly and inwardly sincere and righteous and with a box of real chocolates on the side!
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. “
John 3:16
Happy Valentine’s Day!
-Sheryl