Today, love is on many a mind. You may have said or heard the words “I Love You” for the first time or again on this holiday that celebrates ‘Love’. Or you may be recalling a long-gone love that brings tears to your eyes. Valentine’s Day has its own interesting and somewhat unbelievable history and usage of the word ‘love’. But it sure has endured and continues to provide many an opportunity to say I love you through cards, flowers, candy, dinners, and so much more.
I know that the love Jesus has for us now is far more valuable than anything we could buy or receive from anyone else. His love now and the promise of love forever is the most meaningful gift we could ever receive and share with others.
Yesterday I visited a nearby Rehab center with a few friends from our adult singles group. This center is home to some who live out their days in long-term care, and others receiving skilled care for a return home. None of them had plans to live there, short or long term, nor to celebrate Valentine’s Day there. On our visit, I shared a few ‘love’ theme songs from different eras, had some crooners sing along, and most of them had a smile on their faces. We passed out cards that we had made, and shared a few scriptures and hymns, aka love songs. It was a blessing and a unique time of sharing the love of Jesus with these precious folks. I wondered what thoughts, memories, and stories these ‘historians’ could share with us, along with wisdom and compassion, as well as the love they are experiencing now, with hopes of love forever. Maybe I will discover more on my next visit.
It was around this day in 2021 when my wise husband Ken was unexpectedly nearing the end of his earthly life at the young age of 57. He told me I would never see him as an old man, losing more of his hair and getting all wrinkly, and he laughed about it. But he was sad to leave us all, and the many more memories to come. He made it a point to remind us all to make sure we love Jesus now and share the truth of his love with others, which is a forever kind of love to be sure.
It was a privilege and a joy to share a visit with a few songs, Bible verses, and cards. My hope was to remind them that they are loved, and that the gift of love Jesus has for them is Now and Forever.
May you experience the love of Jesus today and always,
Pati
“We love because he first loved us”. 1 John 4:19
Here are the ‘love’ songs and verses I shared at the conclusion of our visit.
Jesus Loves Me
Jesus loves me, this I know,
for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong;
they are weak, but he is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
O How He Loves You and Me
Oh, how He loves you and me,
Oh, how He loves you and me.
He gave His life, what more could He give;
Oh, how He loves you,
Oh, how He loves me,
Oh, how He loves you and me.
O How I Love Jesus
There is a name I love to hear,
I love to sing its worth;
it sounds like music in my ear,
the sweetest name on earth.
O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus,
because he first loved me!
I Keep Falling in Love with Him
I keep falling in love with Him
Over and over,
and over and over again
I keep falling in love with Him
Over and over,
and over and over again
He gets sweeter and sweeter as the days go by
Oh what a love between my Lord and I
I keep falling in love with Him
Over and over,
and over and over again
The Steadfast Love of the Lord
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.
His mercies never come to an end
They are new every morning,
new every morning.
Great is thy faithfulness, Oh Lord
Great is thy faithfulness, Oh Lord
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”. John 3:16 (ESV)
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness”. Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)
… nothing, neither death nor life, can separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)
“We love because he first loved us”. 1 John 4:19
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Pati Rader 
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