All you need is love (from someone lucky at cards)...

It’s the “LOVE Month,” and it’s also the “Love Week” with Feb. 14th, aka the “Love Day,” happening in just two more days. If you’ve ever heard the phrase, “Lucky at cards, unlucky in love,” let me just mention I am VERY lucky at cards.
Part of me feels like I am the last person in the world who should write about love, another part of me has this job... And columns must be written. And it seems like we should address the topic. So here goes. I will do my best. Please don’t judge. Hopefully, you’ve been much more blessed in the romantic love department, although there are, thankfully, many more kinds of love.
Firstly, I love God. And God loves me. This is the greatest love I’ll ever know, and I am blessed to be called a child of God.
1 John 4:16 states “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”
I strive for this each day. I pray to walk in love with all those I encounter. I pray to be a blessing to all and not to do harm to anyone or myself. I am not perfect. I make mistakes. But I try to love my Lord with all my heart, soul and strength, and ALL His children, as well.
Several years ago, the verse in John 13:34 where Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another,” seemed to speak to my heart.
Since then, I have really tried to follow this new commandment. I will continue to study the Bible and pray and grow in love for my fellow man and live each day with love and gratitude to our Great God, our Savior Jesus Christ and our Blessed Holy Spirit.
I am not a preacher or a teacher. There are those far better at explaining this to you. Seek them out. Pray for guidance. Read the Holy Bible. You can even search online for verses about love, hope, grace, forgiveness or anything else your heart desires or feels led to.
What I’ve learned personally, though, is that part of loving others is loving yourself. And this has always been a little bit hard for me. God loves US ALL! That is taught and preached and has scripture to back it up. Still, sometimes, we think we’re not worthy. But it’s not us that has to be worthy. Jesus was the Worthy One! And He died for us all, and God loves us all--not dependent on us. It’s HIS love. It was HIS choice to die for us so we can have a relationship with HIM and see Him in heaven and all of our loved ones when we get there.
One time, it came into my mind that if God loves everyone--why would He love everyone but me? Silly question, maybe. But I told my brother this, and he used to minister at prisons, and he said he wanted to use that question. Why would God love everybody but you? He loves you! No doubt about it, because He IS love.
After God, there is family love. I AM blessed here! In fact, I am overwhelmingly blessed with family and friends to love. I have a wonderful son and daughter-in-law and two amazing grandsons I adore.
I have a brother and two sisters and all their children and grandchildren to love. I have aunties, uncles and cousins. And I have extended family.
I also have friends to love, and some of them I’ve had for long, long periods of time. Our friendships have aged like fine wine and only gotten better and better.
I also have a handful of very close best friends I adore who I would not trade for millions of dollars. Make that billions. There is nothing to compare with tried and true friendships that are treasures forever.
I also love my co-workers, my neighbors, all of my acquaintances and the people I meet and write stories about.
In fact, I love you. Yes, I do. I love everybody. Jesus told me to. Remember that commandment? So, you are loved. But my love cannot compare with the love from above. Seek it out. You’ll find peace and grace and hope and faith and joy and a million wonderful things you could never imagine.
Maybe you’ve seen one of God’s children behave unlovingly? Don’t let that deter you from having a personal relationship with Him! Again, we are not perfect. Even God’s children make mistakes. We all do. I do. There’s also a lot in the Bible about forgiveness. It may not be easy, but unforgiveness is like carrying around a backpack full of rocks. If you can ever forgive, and let go, YOU’LL be the one who benefits.
And yet again, there are much better teachings to be found. Search for sermons on forgiveness. Read verses on love. I am. After my regular daily devotionals, I like to pick out certain verses to meditate on throughout the day. Since February is about love, I’ve read many verses on love in years past. Right now, I’m focusing on verses that have the word “heart” in them.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding,” from Proverbs 3:5 is a good one.
Psalms 51:10 notes, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will also be,” from Matthew 6:21 is also a great verse.
And speaking of treasures, there are definitely some to be found in this edition of the Journal-Record. There is more than half a page of Valentine’s Day cards, and I know or have met nearly every person there. Some I even love beyond compare.
One of those cards was requested by a reader, who’d had one printed several years before. Her request led to us opening up the opportunity for others. Will we do this again next year? I’m not sure. But IF you missed your chance, and you want a Valentine next year, let us know by the middle of January, please?
Thank you to those who participated in our special Valentine’s Day section. And thank you all for reading. I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine’s Day filled with love and family and friendships. And if you are alone, like I probably will be (by my choice--I am NOT complaining), remember God loves you more than you can ever imagine.
Learn to love Him, and learn to love yourself. He made you exactly as you are--and He does not make mistakes.
And if all else fails, listen to the Beatles sing, “All You Need Is Love.” I’ve done that every single morning this month, and I’ll conclude my streak on Feb. 14. Happy Valentine’s Day from Chazz! I love you! xoxo