Love.

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” 
(John 13:35 ESV)


Valentines Day, Singleness Awareness Day, or whatever you want to call it, I had a lot to think about today. No, I'm not one of those bitter people who are single and wish they had a valentine, but neither am I one of those that are so happy with being single cause I'm free from the bondages of... well... having a significant other.
As I called in my students today, 3/4 of my students came in with huge balloons, cupcakes, flowers, and huge smiles on their faces. The way they walked in, you'd think that it was Christmas or the last day of school. It was so funny to see how these high schooler's emotions were satisfied with this definition of "love."And as people get older, flowers alone don't satisfy anymore, it becomes cute thoughtful dates, expensive dinners and what not.
In the midst of these thoughts, it hit me... love, whether in the form of flowers, dinners, or just nice words, was and is not simply for ourselves but to show "all people" that we are disciples of Christ.

And in this, I was challenged, and I hope that you who read this are challenged, to love not for ourselves, but for God. And to love through both our actions, words, and thoughts.