Today is Valentine’s Day – a day in which we outwardly express our affection for one another. A day where we see advertisements and cards and stuffed animals and balloons all with little pink and red hearts. We choose this one day to outwardly celebrate an act that frankly we should express everyday towards those whom we love and adore. 

While thinking about this, I am reminded of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that whoever shall believe in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”  By the giving of his only Son, the greatest gift we could receive, isn’t our Heavenly Father’s desire to show us his love and affection for his children everyday? 

Doesn’t he have so many gifts that he wants to give his children — if only we were open to receive them? I was thinking about this in relation to the gift of Salvation. We know that all we have to do is have faith, believe, and confess that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and we immediately receive the gift of salvation but we don’t experience the fullness of that gift until we meet him face to face. 

Isn’t that true of the other gifts he wants to give us? While we wait on a new heart for our son, we fully believe he is already healed because isn’t that the heart of our Heavenly Father.  He sent his son to die on a cross for me, for Scott, for you and for Townes. Because Jesus bore our sin, declared ‘It is Finished’, died and then conquered the grave – Victory is already ours. In Heaven, sickness, disease, grief, sadness, brokenness don’t exist – instead there is wholeness, health, joy, celebration, beautiful songs, worship. So while we wait (more on this in a later post) – we ask and fully believe Heaven will come to earth so our son can experience full healing and we thank him in advance for already healing our son. 

1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sines and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”

Since we began this journey on September 30th, I have been learning so many lessons but one of the main ones is how to Receive.

I don’t know about you but asking for help has never been an easy task for me – maybe being Type A, the firstborn, strong willed, or a #1 on the Enneagram has something to do with it but I think it may be deeper than that. 

During this season our family, friends and even people slightly removed from us have generously given to us over and over and over again. In just this last week since Townes was born, we have experienced the love and generosity of others in way I could have never imagined and frankly I don’t think the English language has sufficient words to express our gratitude. 

Our families have driven miles and taken off work to be here, day in and day out. Townes’ Godparents have sacrificially given of their love and time in ways I could have never imagined. Friends have stepped up to care for our dogs, make sure meals are delivered for our whole family at the hospital, and our house chores are taken care of, they have played worship music for Townes and come to pray over him. One friend even dropped off Rodan & Fields products so even in the midst of the tiredness I can feel refreshed and beautiful while others planned a secret date night at Bucca for reflexology and dinner at Flemmings for Valentine’s to ensure Scott and I could spend time together.  I have simply been stunned to watch all of this unfold and if I am honest, maybe what lies beneath my #1 personality is I feel unworthy of their love and support.

If I feel that way just with our family and friends, does that sometimes or in some ways reflect how I could feel about receiving good gifts from my Heavenly Father?

I am then reminded of Paul, my favorite apostle, who writes in Ephesians 1: 3-5 “Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm has already been lavished upon us as a love gift from our wonderful heavenly Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus…Because of is great love, he ordained us, so that we would be seen as holy in his eyes with an unstained innocence.”  

Jesus was the sacrifice for me – he made me righteous, holy, and unblemished in my Father’s eyes. Jesus has made me worthy. My identity is found in him, it is not found in my own accomplishments, my desire for perfection or to be perfect, to do the “right” things. 

I am also in awe of simply being reminded that we (his children) are made in God’s own image (Genesis 1:27). We are experiencing everyday the goodness of God, his compassion, his empathy, his love and that goodness is demonstrated to us through our family and friends. Our natural response is to offer any help we can to those in need – to love one another (John 13:34-35) – why because he first loved us and made us in his own image.  The theme that is continually reflected is the heart of our Savior and Heavenly Father and he is using his children to demonstrate that great love. 

Happy Valentine’s Day – I hope you are encouraged and reminded to shower someone you love with affection.

Maleah, Scott, & Townes