During this week, we celebrate love.  Every day should be filled with love and we shouldn’t just deem one day for that purpose.  There’s the romantic kind of love, friendship kind of love and the sacrificial kind of love that often goes unnoticed and forgotten, but still the most wonderful kind of love imaginable.

Wednesday, we’ll exchange Valentine’s cards, buy chocolates and flowers and gifts to shower on those we love.  This holiday seems to be a giant money maker for merchants of said items.  Many engagement rings will be purchased, promises made and plans for two lives becoming one.

This year, we’re also experiencing the beginning of the season of repentance on February 14th.  Ash Wednesday is the Christian’s reminder of what was given up for our salvation – the price of our redemption – the sacrificial love which took away the sin of the world.  This is the kind of love that we can reflect on those we come into contact with each day.

Christ’s love is like that.  It’s a beacon in a dark world – A lighthouse in a safe harbor, beckoning us to a comforting place – a reflective light that bounces off of Him, onto us and sheds light on others.  It’s the kind of love that never stops giving, because it is unselfish – there are no conditions.  When we’ve been so gifted, it’s easy to share that love with others and not be afraid to.  He gives us the means – through His Holy Word.  He gives us the Spirit – to say the right things.  He gives us His power and strength to overcome obstacles along the way.

During the upcoming season of Lent (repentance) we need to look within ourselves to see how much we need a Savior.  Though our sins have already been forgiven, we are still a people that continues to sin.  We need to repent daily and can never say “I’m sorry” enough.  Without our Jesus, our words are simply empty.  With Him, we have the power of God in us.

What greater love is there than that he lay down his life for another?