God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

1 John 4:9-10

Although the history of Valentine’s day is shrouded in mystery, it is the day of the year set aside to declare love for that someone special.

Listening to the nightly news on February 13, I learned of Loveland, Colorado. It surprised me that every year hundreds of thousands of Valentines are sent there in advance of February 14 to be stamped with a special “Loveland” message. Boxes of red, pink and white Valentines were individually stamped and then sent on to their final destinations. That’s a lot of work for a Valentine.

I love the message of love we received from our Creator. When the time was right, he sent his son, Jesus, to buy our freedom. That’s an initiation of love that requires my response. Today, I celebrate and receive his unconditional love for me.

I celebrate not only God’s love for me, but all the people in my life who love me so unconditionally. This Valentine’s wish didn’t go through Loveland, but it’s filled with genuine gratitude for all those who fill my life with joy, love and laughter! And a special shout out to my readers! You fill my life with joy in a way I didn’t know was possible! Thanks for reading!

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!