Morning Devotionals

by Don Emmitte

 

February 14th, 2008

 

“A Valentine's Reminder”

Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away. Who can comprehend the power of your anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve. Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. (Psalm 90:10-12 NLT).

This is certainly not the typical reading for Valentine's Day, is it? However, I saw an interesting story this week that made me think of how important it is to value our present, rather than dream of the future or wallow in the past. The story comes from Davie, Florida. The following are excerpts from the AP release:

Kim Sjostrom wanted a real-life version of the film "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," which played in the background as friends fixed her hair and makeup before her own marriage ceremony. But less than an hour after she and Teddy Efkarpides were wed, Sjostrom crumpled in her husband's arms during a Greek song that means "Love Me." At 36, Sjostrom was dead from heart disease. She had a previous cardiac episode in her 20s and was a poster child — literally — for juvenile diabetes, relatives and friends said. Efkarpides recalled seeing the poster featuring her on New York subways. He consoles himself by reading a list of "101 Reasons Why I Love You" that Sjostrom gave him their first Christmas together. "Number 1. You make me smile." No. 98 is especially difficult: "You're the one I want to grow old with."

I hope you are doing something special for your “valentine” today. However might I suggest that the most important thing you can do for those you love ANY day of the year is to express that love through acts of kindness and grace in the present. It is so easy to get lost in “what might have been” or to procrastinate until a “better time.” I submit to you the truth that there is no better time than now to show you love to those God has given to you. And, if you're having trouble figuring out how to do that, read 1

Corinthians 13! Paul has a pretty good description of real love in that chapter. Use today as an excuse to begin a lifestyle of sacrificial love for those of your family.