As hard as it is to believe, February has been here and is gone! Time has felt so strange! Thankfully though, slowly but surely, time is shifting a little more toward “normal” here. Schools are back in session full time, we’ve been having in-person church, businesses are able to host more customers, and my calendar actually has writing on it in the coming weeks and months of which I am VERY thankful. Speaking of gratitude, it’s time to look back over the past month with http://www.heathergerwing.com and think about what I’ve “Loved, Read or Heard Said, Treasured, and to What’s Ahead”. Being February, it’s all about love this month! So, here we go….
February Share Four Somethings
“My loved ones, let us devote ourselves to loving one another. Love comes straight from God, and everyone who loves is born of God and truly knows God.” 1 John 4:7 (The Voice)
Something Loved
Showing love, is the something I loved in February! It’s often easy to take Valentine’s Day for granted after spending 39 of them together. Not wanting that to happen, I decided to celebrate with my husband all week leading up to the 14th. What a great time I had picking out little favorite treats I know he enjoys and then coming up with silly sayings to go along with them. It brought me joy to remind him that he’s still the ONE for me! Showing someone they’re loved is always the best gift and we don’t have to (and shouldn’t) wait until Valentine’s Day to give it!
“With every sun’s rising, surprise us with Your love, satisfy us with Your kindness. Then we will sing with joy and celebrate every day we are alive.” Psalm 90:14 (The Voice)
Something Read/Said
In a Voxer message, a friend recently read me some words that truly made my “heart sing”! When I messaged back asking where she’d found them, she shared this wonderful book with me. Sally Lloyd-Jones knows how to speak words of God’s love to the soul. A devotional, “Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing” is that special combination of being written for children and yet, within the pages and illustrations are messages everyone longs to hear, no matter their age! I’m looking forward to sharing this beautiful little book with my grandsons and reading it for myself when I need to, as the Author’s Note says, “listen to whatever God wants to say to me” about “how He loves me and how I can love him”.
“I (God) appeared to them from far away and said: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love-out of faithfulness I have drawn you close.’ ” Jeremiah 31:3 (The Voice)
Something Treasured
Love in real time across the miles: That’s what I treasured in February! My sisters and I spent our early childhood in California while our grandparents lived in Michigan. The only way for them to share in our lives was through rare, expensive long distance phone calls or after the fact in letters sent across the country. The same was also true for my Mom after we girls went our own ways. While we too are separated by miles, how grateful I am to be able to share in my kids’ and grandsons’ day to day lives right as things are happening! How fun to see the boys play in the first snow of the winter, watch our youngest grand beginning to crawl, and view our son’s craftsmanship displayed at his first show! There’s no doubt that for this Mom and MiMi, loving in person is best; but, being included in long distance, real time love is something I’ll always treasure, too!
“But now faith, hope, and love remain; these three virtues must characterize our lives. The greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (The Voice)
Something Ahead
They began in December at the Prayer Tree: my prayers for the Covid vaccine. Since then, I’ve been hoping and praying for the call that I received this morning. It’s my turn! I’ve waited and watched as the 80+ crowd received their shots, then the 70+ crew, and now….the 60+ gang that I’m part of are up! I’m not just looking ahead to March 4th though, I’m also looking ahead to what March 4th and the vaccine mean. Soon I will, without fear of unknowingly making someone sick, finally be able to spend time with family. My calendar can once again become a place of plans to gather with friends, birthday celebrations, and holiday traditions! While “normal” of 2019 and “normal” of 2021 will most certainly look different as we move ahead, these remain: faith that God is working all things for good, hope in what’s to come, and most of all, love that never ends!
I “love” this practice of looking back before we look ahead. I’d love to hear your reflections on February! Just share them in the comments if you’d like. I continue to be grateful for your presence here with me and my pondering. You are a blessing to me! Happy March!
I love the little treats you made for your husband for Valentine’s day! Thanks for linking up!
I love the little notes with the Valentine’s treats – that’s such a thoughtful idea. And it’s great that you are able to keep up with your grandkids from across the miles! I am definitely also hoping that we get back to a bit more normality soon!
Today is March 4 and I waited until today to reply to your post. ” I’m not just looking ahead to March 4th though, I’m also looking ahead to what March 4th and the vaccine mean.” I hope your vaccine experience is a good one and that you don’t have side effects of the antibodies as they create your immunity. My husband and several friends have had the 2-part vaccine without any illness except a sore arm. The more you vigorously use your arm, the less soreness you will feel. Here’s to lots of time, fun, and in person visits throughout 2021 and beyond.