We like to have fun with Valentines Day. I make a special breakfast, and we exchange cards and little gifts…nothing crazy, but it’s a fun way to break up the winter. And here in the midwest, a little something to break up the winter is a welcome change. Plus, it’s a fun day to show each other in little ways that we love each other.

Then later that night we dropped the kids off with grandparents and D and I went to a movie together. I posted this cute picture on social media:

But here’s the deal, that’s not the whole story of the day. The day was FULL of sibling squabbles and attitudes. I was tired and tried to nap…and woke up more grumpy then before. And in the middle of our movie, we got a text that one of our kids was throwing up so we left to go pick her up.

“Love is patient and kind…it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful…Love bears all things, believes, all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

So, our “day of love” gave us all plenty of opportunity to practice that…not perfectly of course (which is where forgiveness comes into play). Because love is messy and hard and fun and wonderful…and everything in between.

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)