I heard a children's sermon once..."God is like a Valentines sucker...sweet and full of love." OK...not. But Valentine's day might be a bit like God...placing love in the center of all we see and say and do.
The thing is God's love is way different than our mushy, Hallmark sentiments that require billions of dollars in "proof." God's love is a 11 year old girl who's friend's grandmother broke an ankle and who knew that a prayer quilt was a visible sign of God's invisible healing work so she stood up in front of the church to tell her story and ask for prayers.
God's love is a tiny baby held by a church member during the service, so her mom can sing in the choir and her dad can listen to the service. God's love is the unwrapping of hand chimes gifted by a congregation to the children and youth and the excited inclusion of the Down's child because he, too, can follow the color coded music. God's love is the delivery of 860 cans of food, and the prayer spoken over the food that it might go where it's needed and strengthen those who receive it.
Church, like a Valentine's sucker can be a sticky mess. But God is that focusing love that puts our attention on the things that matter, and infuses our feeble efforts with God's grace to change the world.
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