How Much Love Is Enough?

Our Thoughts:

We began life with the attitude of love. We came into the world learning what would rule us for our lives. A Mother who is pregnant begins to bond with that child long before it is born. The first movements gives her a feeling that no other person could know. It's something beyond words. And, when that child is born, love surrounds the child. Hopefully, that child will grow up to be a loving adult.

Most parents shower their children with gifts. Most of them are given just because we love our children and want them to have certain things, perhaps those things we never had when we were growing up. But, some give gifts because they think that will make a child love them more. But, gifts can't buy love. Oh, it may make a child say they love you, but when the gift is worn out, do they ask for more? Then, when you can't give them more, do they still love you (that is, do they appreciate you just as much as when you could produce)?

Humans look at love so differently than our Heavenly Father. It's not enough for us to just LOVE someone. We think we have to show them in materialistic ways. God showed us with the most unselfish kind of love there ever could be: He sent His ONLY SON to earth to die for our sins so that we might have life eternally. That is the kind of LOVE that God wants us to exhibit in our every day lives - unselfish love, the kind of love that money can't buy. No gift can give you this kind of love. It's demonstrated in a Mother's touch, a loving hug, a special look between people, the need to be with someone - love that can't be bought! We should strive to love the Heavenly way as our Father did so many years ago. I can imagine the tears that must have fallen when He sent His Son, and then had to see Him die on the cross of Calvary. We would never be able to stand seeing our child that way, but we can ask God to give us that kind of love - the love it takes to bond to each other.

God's Thoughts:

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

Our Cup:

Heavenly Father, during the holidays, we often think gifts are a way of loving someone. Help us to remember that this is the season of love, the time in which you sent your Son to earth because you loved us so much. Help us to know that it's this kind of love we need in life, the kind not found in those gifts under the tree. We give you praise! In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.