What do you love most about your life? I don’t expect you to answer that question in a moment because I hope there are many things about your life that you love. Let’s sit a while and think of all the wonderful things that we experience. I imagine the things we love most are the people in our life, family and friends, those closest to us. Yes we can enjoy material things but it is our relationships that are most precious to us. I am sure there are many women who would love to receive roses and chocolates tomorrow morning. It would mean so much to them, it would be an outward expression of the love their partner feels for them. But of course if love just consists of roses and chocolates it would be easy to keep people happy and the florists would do a fantastic trade. People are complex and so is love. Real love is about understanding a person, getting close to them and making yourself vulnerable. I always found Valentine’s Day difficult because you send a card to someone you love and then desperately wait to see if you get one in return. It is far simpler when you are in a relationship. But love always makes us vulnerable. To express love is to be creative, whether that is buying a dozen roses or any other gift. Often it is the thought behind the gift which is as important. It is essential that each one of us knows that we are loved. When we are loved it gives us a sense of security and strength to move on from where we are. It makes us feel brave as we face an uncertain future. As we remember our loved ones this weekend let us also be reminded that God loves us too. Not that God will be turning up at your door with a bunch of roses. He created the very flowers themselves just for us to enjoy. He gives us so many gifts, all we have to do is open our eyes to his goodness and thank him.     God Bless    

 

 

By Peter Bates.  Methodist Minister for Dewsbury. 

 On behalf of the Churches Together in Dewsbury.