I Love a Good Love Story

One of our favorite movies was the blockbuster, "Love Story", with Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw! While I love a good on-screen love-story movie, there is nothing like real life ones.

The first chapter of my own love story began when I was a little girl seeing the adoring love that my mom and dad had for each other. I witnessed their sweet affection for each other. In fact, my dad couldn’t keep his hands off my mom. “Roscoe, QUIT!” she’d cry out when he was waaay too affectionate in public for her very prim and proper ways. They were my first example of true love. I think that’s why I’m a hugger today! Be forewarned!

The next love chapter was the love of my boyfriend who became my precious husband a few years later. What a wild and crazy adventure we took on by marrying when we hardly knew anything about life, but we kept practicing and before long, we had learned many trial-and-error lessons. Actually, we never did stop learning about life and each other.

I love to hear real-life love stories. If you and I were together for just a short while, you'd be answering my plea: "Please tell me your love story with your husband/wife!" Since I know my own love story, I get a thrill of hearing other people's romance stories. Now you know why I love me some Hallmark movies! Happy ever-after endings every time!

But, better than our personal love stories, there is one that doesn't even compare. It is the LOVE STORY about God’s Son Who left the portals of heaven to become one of us, first, as a little baby, then grow up and set the pattern for loving, living and serving others. Then to ultimately, die for us so that our Love Stories live on forever. The Bible tells us to "give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever" Psalm 136:1. "Steadfast love" describes a love that is unconditional and unchanging.

So right here in the middle of this holiest of seasons when we hear that Love Story over and over again, how should we respond? We can respond like the shepherds did on that first Christmas night, and like the Wise Men when they arrived at their home. They worshiped Him. We can rekindle this romance every day as we lean in closer to Jesus and bow our lives to Him in adoration for Who He is and all He has done for us. We can fall in love with Him again and determine to keep the “flames” of that first love we had for Him burning as brightly as the star that announced His coming 2,019 years ago. Indeed, it is the "Greatest Love Story Ever Told"!

Happy Valentine’s Day, Old AND Young Lovers!

My word for today is "Valentine’s Day" – a day that St. Valentine gave his life for; recognized as a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance around the world

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite days of the year because it holds one of my most precious memories. On this day, the cutest dark haired 13-year old boy named Ronnie (aka Ron) Wuerch and me, the lankiest, 12-year old girl had our very first “official” date (chauffeured by Ronnie’s dad) to a Valentine’s Banquet at my church. The photo here is that day – when Ronnie had to stand on the step above me – because I was taller than him. Oh, how I remember the butterflies in my stomach, the sweaty palms, and the pride I had in showing off my “boy friend” to my friends. At thirteen, Ronnie was already an accomplished pianist with an amazing voice. He played the piano and sang at the banquet. I thought I was the luckiest girl in the world when my girl friends said, “He sings and looks just like Frankie Avalon!”

It was a complete set-up by my grandmother – of all people. She invited my family to their church where Ronnie’s dad was the pastor. Right from the start, that cute boy kept looking and smiling at me….and I smiled back. A few days later, Grandma called me: “Ronnie Wuerch says he likes you.” And, I replied, “Tell him I like him, too!” And that’s the way we began. Early on, my grandmother and our mothers knew (you know – that woman’s intuition), that we were meant to be. And we were.

This day is about lovers and I like to give credit where credit is due. This is the story of St. Valentine's Day. Valentine was a Christian priest who lived near Rome during the time of Emperor Claudius II, a sworn enemy of the faith. In the beginning, Valentine had won the emperor’s admiration, but lost it – and his life – by trying to convert Claudius to the faith. On February 14th, 278, the emperor was so outraged by Valentine’s unwanted evangelism AND because Valentine was secretly marrying Christian couples against His edict that he had Valentine tortured and beheaded. It is said that just before Valentine was led away to his execution, he wrote a note to the blind daughter of his jailer, whose vision was restored after he prayed for her. According to legend, he signed his note, “from your Valentine.” Hence, the tradition of sending Valentine cards.

I wonder what St. Valentine would make of this day of celebrating love. Would he laugh hilariously at all the chocolate, flowers, hearts and expressions of affection that lovers share, or would he cry at all the expense without a true increase in genuine love -- especially when it would be so beautiful if this day would really increase our love for each other.

Perhaps he would appreciate it all and maybe he would express his feelings by quoting St. Paul, whose wisdom he revered: “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9

Thank you, St. Valentine's for reminding us, ABOVE ALL -- to LOVE. I am celebrating love with all of you lovers out there on this beautiful Valentine's Day. I urge you to live in the moments God has given you. Treasure your moments together. Please don’t take those moments for granted.

And for all of you.....can I gently remind you of an important truth? A truth that makes all the difference to me? If we are God’s children, we are involved in the greatest love story ever created. God created us, knows us inside and out, and loves us from the top of our heads to the tips of our toes. We can celebrate love this year just like everyone else, knowing that we have a deeper understanding than anything that’s advertised or on the shelves in a store. GOD LOVES US!

Happy St. Valentine's Day to all my FB friends! God loves you so much AND so do I.......<3 <3 <3

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

I love the way my friend, Melissa Ascarino Silvestro, Director of Adult and Family Life at my church, talks and leads those in faith formation to falling in love with Jesus. First it’s getting acquainted with Him and His Church. It’s all about a Love Story. Please allow me to give you her perspective of that love story. (I’ve embellished her words with my words -- just a little!)

First you hear about this "guy" from a friend. She tells you she wants you to meet him because he’d be perfect for you. You’re hesitant about meeting another guy who could let you down and disappoint you. But, she goes on to tell you that the two of you have so much common with each other because he knows disappointment and rejection too. He is kind and generous and forgiving. You agree to meet him, but you’re not quite sure so you remain cautious. The encounter is planned and the day comes when you get to meet him. He’s everything that your friend said he would be. But you’re not about to commit to someone you just met. Your friend encourages you to hang in there, find out more about him, and just spend some one-on-one time with him. You agree to another “date”. This time, something starts happening inside you. You start to get some emotions you can’t explain. You really, really like him…..a lot. By now, you've met some of his family members -- and they are warm and welcoming and you like hanging around them, too. But, you’re just not a quick decision maker – especially when you think about a long term relationship. By now, you can’t stop thinking about him because he seems to be everything you hoped for, dreamed for, and waited for. You spend even more time with him and when you do, you see that he’s a friend that you can talk to about any and everything with. He “gets you”. He understands what you mean when you speak and he even knows what you’re thinking before you speak. Then, the day comes when he asks if you’ll be his forever and ever love, and there is no way you could say “no” – he has captured your mind, your heart and your soul. You say, “Yes – I believe in you. My life is in you. My hope is in you. You are my beloved and I am yours.” Honestly, this is MY Love Story. Jesus is my everything -- my hope for today and tomorrow. I assure you, that this could be your Love Story, too!

Indeed, the greatest story ever told is that LOVE STORY – the story about God’s Son who left the portals of heaven to become one of us, first, as a little baby, then grow up and set the pattern for loving and living and serving others, and then to ultimately, die for us so that our Love Story lives on forever. The Bible tells us to "give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever" Psalm 136:1. Twenty-five more times in the Psalm we are assured that God's "steadfast love endures forever." "Steadfast love" describes a love that is unconditional and unchanging, depending in no sense on us and in every sense on God.
So as we enter into this most holy of seasons that describes that LOVE STORY to us over and over, how should we respond to such a Love Story? We can respond like the shepherds did on that first Christmas night, and like the Wise Men when they arrived at their home. They worshiped Him. We can enter into that amazing LOVE STORY as we contemplate Him, lean in closer to Him and bow our lives to Him in adoration for who He is and all He has done for us. We can fall in love with him again and determine to keep the “flames of that first love we had for Him” burning as brightly as the star that announced His coming over 2,000 years ago.

One of my favorite authors, Max Lucado, also recommends this Love Story: "When we invite God into our world, he walks in. He brings a host of gifts: joy, patience, resilience. Anxieties come, but they don't stick. Fears surface and then depart. Regrets land on the windshield, but then comes the wiper of prayer. The devil still hands me stones of guilt, but I turn and give them to Christ."