What Are You Giving for Valentine's Day?

I get amused with my students when holidays are coming up. They begin asking, "Mrs. Denton, what are you getting for" and name the holiday. This week the question is, "what are you getting for Valentine's Day?".
My answers are always something silly. But it's interesting that they are almost always talking about what they are "gonna get".

One day I asked "what are you going to give?". The look on a couple of their faces made you wonder if I had just spoken in Greek or some foreign language that they did not understand!!

You know, gifts are fun. Opening a package that someone bought for you really is very special. But think about this - presents can be bought with a half-hearted obligation simply because it is a special occasion. What can you give for free (or almost free) that would mean as much as a purchased present?

Think about how much a hand-written note sent via the mail (for approximately 42 cents) means. Just tell someone you care about them.

Think about how nice it would be to get an email that is not a "forward of a forward" but a note that says, "I just want to tell you that you are special to me"!

Think about loving somebody in spite of their failings!! Not, "I love you because it's the right thing to do"; but really loving somebody.

Think about giving the gift of breaking down and dropping that grudge that you have hung onto entirely too long.

Think about giving someone what they need and not what the deserve.

Think about giving the most wonderful gift of all. Share Jesus with someone.

So, what are you giving for Valentine's Day? Make it one of those very special "free" items!!!

Moving On

Have you ever noticed that when someone has been through a tough time it seems difficult for others to let them move on? That has become very evident to me in the past few months.

Sometimes we can endure what other might think is just "unforgiveable". In doing so, it may appear that we do not see the vastness of the problem. It may appear that they are "pretending to be doing well". You know, just maybe the ones struggling made the concentrated choice to deal with it and move on!!!

It's not that there was no pain. It was not that the hurt did not seem overwhelming. It is not that it is just ignored or forgotten.
But, here is what it is:

• It is a person showing absolute remorse for actions.
• It is that person asking for forgiveness.
• It is the person who was hurt giving forgiveness with no conditions.
• It is focused on recovery - together!
• It is learning from how this happened and moving on.
• It is once again laughing and joking together; holding hands and loving life - together.
• It is recognizing that Satan wants us focused on the sin and the hurt.
• It is knowing without a doubt that Jesus wants us moving on and continuing to grow together.

So, sometimes no matter what happens and how devastating it might be, those involved just might have already put it behind them and are fully enjoying rediscovering what they love about each other!!!

I love moving on!!!