For years, February has been designated as Heart Month. Taking the
cue from the outpouring of expressions of "love from the heart" on
Valentine Day, the National Heart Association has adopted the same
publicity to call to our attention the important matter of heart
disease, it's dangers and risks, prevention and treatment. Other
organizations use the symbol of the heart to call attention to
themselves. Stores have month long sales with red and pink hearts over
every aisle and counter. Best of all, a vast array of Valentine gifts
are offered in every store. You have to force your way up to the
Valentine cards in order to join in the search for that perfect
Valentine for the one or ones we love. We choose this special day to
express our deep love and affection for those dear to us. There are
cards of every description..funny, "mushy", simple,
extravagant..something for everyone's taste. Then there are those
tempting boxes of candy, heart shaped, square, oblong , ribbon or flower
bedecked. And of course flowers, the universal language of love. A
special favorite is a lovely, intimate candlelit dinner, with lacy or
snowy tablecloth, roses or other favorite blossom. Even little kids
love this day, bringing their sweet little tokens of devotion to those
they love. Yes, we all love Valentine Day because it gives us the
opportunity to express in some measure our love for those special people
so dear to our heart. The undisputed symbol of this day is the
heart..red, pink, gold, whatever..the heart is the natural choice. We
speak of the heart as the seat of our emotions. The expression.."with
all my heart"..is the fullest measure of love w can give. Yes, if the
heart is the symbol, the one message is ..LOVE. Love in all it's
facets: sweethearts, husbands and wives, parents and children,
friends..on this one day the whole world... well, at least our own
country.. resounds with lovesongs, is pampered with cards and gifts, is
fragrant with perfumes and flowers, is indulged with candy and exquisite
cuisine.
But there is a Love that so far surpasses the finest, the deepest, the
purest and most devoted love of mankind, that there are no words or
language, no action known to man that can adequately describe it or
express it's depth and width and breadth.
Of course, I speak of the immeasurable
Love of God. He loved us before we were born, because even then He knew
our past, present and future. He knew when we would fail and fall, when
we would be tempted and defeated, when we would break His heart with
our waywardness.He knew all these things and He loved us anyway. He
knew we were weak and incapable of righteousness, and of self-
redemption. He saw us in our misery, in the dust of our hopelessness and
He gave the supreme Valentine..the ultimate gift of Love. He gave His
Son. When Jesus hung on the Cross at Calvary, when His blood poured red
and warm from His broken, wounded body, when His life ebbed painfully
away, with each beat of His holy heart, he sent the message to a lost
and dying world. He sent His Valentine, and every throb of His weakened
heart said,"I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU..I Looove youu-u-.....". till
there was no more blood to be shed, no more heart beats to throb, no
more breath to whisper His love.
Ah, but His Valentine to us was not finished... Three days later, one
listening might have heard beyond that huge stone, a rustling, a
stirring, a faint beat, growing stronger and stronger and louder and
louder and now the message echoes around the world. "I have defeated
Death and I bring to you LIFE ,my precious gift of Love bought at
unspeakable cost. I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU." And the song
goes on..and on..and on....
all rights.ruthmartin.February 2006
THE WRITINGS OF RUTH MARTIN
