What Flowers Taught Me About Love

As a single gal, I knew that Valentine’s Day could take an emotional toll on me if I wasn’t vigilant. I was also sure that I wouldn’t be receiving any valentines this year.

That is until I came home from class to find a bouquet of flowers sitting on my cluttered dresser.

I grinned at the pink daisies, dainty baby’s breath, and the single yellow rose arranged artistically with a balloon. No, they weren’t from some secret admirer. They were from my beautiful mother, who had driven all over town (with bronchitis to boot) to find me the perfect flowers.

Later that night when I was getting ready for bed, I bent to smell the flowers and started to cry. I felt loved so deeply, and I didn’t even have a romantic valentine! And that’s when I realized that these weren’t just flowers.

They were a piece of God’s love for me.

Take a look at Jesus’ commandment for His followers (aka, us).

 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35 NKJV)

Love God. Love others.

It all seems so simple, yet we often ignore this powerful commandment. How many times a day do you go out of your way to love someone? I know I don’t live it out nearly enough.

You see, my mom’s  flowers were an act of kindness that reflects just how much Jesus loves me. She was sick, but she still went out in the cold to buy them for me. Not only that, but she went to three different stores to find my favorite ones! She took great time, effort, and sacrifice to make me feel special.

Have you ever received a gift like that?

You may not realize it, but God has given you the most precious gift of all. The biggest part of Himself. The greatest sacrifice in the universe. His Son.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NIV)

Both of the scriptures I’ve mention are quoted often, but when we really stop to reflect on how much God loves us–to know the height and depth of this love–it will start to radiate from our very being. 

That’s why loving others is so important. When we take the time to call a friend, pray with a neighbor, run errands for the elderly, or buy someone an unexpected gift, we are showing God’s love. We are giving them what God has given us. We are telling them that they matter to the One who gave all for them. 

Those flowers I received sparked something inside of me. Suddenly instead of just “getting by” on Valentine’s Day, I felt joy in surprising people with little gifts and messages of love. I’m not saying this to brag. It was Jesus’ love that I gave, and it was because He loved me first (1 John 4:19). 

Lovely reader, take the time this week to pray and read the Word and get lost in God’s incredible love. But don’t stop there. Let that love pour out of you and onto someone else.

It only takes one act of Jesus-led love to change someone’s life. In fact, sometimes it only takes a vase of flowers.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below 🙂

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