My love language is gifts. It doesn’t have to be anything grand… a simple note, a candy bar or a surprise coffee fills my cup to the very top. While Dan isn’t perfect, he has always loved me well. He has for sure mastered my love language. Over the years, he has blessed me in small ways and in big ways. I honestly can’t remember going more than a few weeks without him giving me a gift. It’s never been about the “stuff”. Something about him giving me a gift makes me feel extra special. With that said, I have a confession. I will just say it… I think Valentine’s Day is dumb!

I don’t know if it is because Dan loves me so well… or what… but I feel like getting things on Valentine’s Day feels too forced. Something about a holiday that wants people who love each other to buy gifts for each other just doesn’t feel right to me. It’s probably silly – because I love birthday gifts and I love Christmas gifts – but something about Valentine’s Day just doesn’t feel genuine to me.

But guess what, Dan doesn’t care. Every year, without fail, he has gotten me a Valentine’s Day gift. You know what’s crazy? Every year, it completely surprises me. I don’t expect anything, but every year, he shows up with something amazing. Something that is well thought out  (often quirky) and designed just for me. This year, it was this this adorable Llama bowl.

I can’t even lie, I came home from work totally distracted. I have been busy, overwhelmed and honestly, tonight I was exhausted. When I saw the llama…I totally squealed like the littlest happy girl ever! I mean, look how adorable he is!?! I immediately ran to Dan and hugged him.

After I finished squealing and hugging Dan. I couldn’t help but be thankful for the answered prayers my husband is! He loves me and continues to show me just how much he loves me when I least expect it. As I sat there thinking about how well Dan loves me, I realized this isn’t the end. When I wake up tomorrow, Dan will still love me. This llama isn’t the last gift Dan will ever give me.

What a picture of how much the Father loves us. John 3:16 says this in the Passion Translation:

For this is how much God loved the world—he gave his one and only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life.

Our Father gave us His only son as a gift to save us. That should have been enough, and yet there is still more. 1 John 3:1 says this in the Passion Translation:

Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvelous love that he has lavished on us! He has called us and made us his very own beloved children.

Calling us children should have be enough, and yet there is still more. Psalm 86:15 says this in the Passion Translation:

But Lord, your nurturing love is tender and gentle.
You are slow to get angry yet so swift to show your faithful love.
You are full of abounding grace and truth.

Being slow to anger and quick to show His love should be enough, and yet there is more. Deuteronomy 7:9 says this in the New International Version:

AND YET THERE IS MORE! One of the most famous descriptions of love is found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. It says this in the Passion Translation:

Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance.  Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong.  Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others.  Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.

This is how the Father loves us. It’s an unrelenting, never-ending deep love. It doesn’t change because of who we are or what we have done. It simply is. This love is something worth celebrating!

Maybe Valentines Day isn’t so bad after all.