Roses and Thorns

We have a Valentine tradition of writing letters to each other and reading them out loud to one another on the night of Valentine's Day.

It is such fun to get out the notebook that we have had for almost 10 years now and to see the handwriting evolve over the years of the kids.  Each year, a favorite is finding the Valentine that Anna wrote to Taylor when he was a baby that has a big corner chewed off of it. An arrow was drawn to that with the words, "Taylor liked this so much that he ate it.." 

They are simply little time capsules that reveal little windows from each year. This is the stuff of life and of celebration that I love.  Anna and Taylor were doomed to have a mother who had been a teacher as on some holidays, these assignments are just part of the routine.

"Dear Mom, I love you to Mars and back. I am so so happy that you are my mom. I love snuggling with you on the couch and reading. When I have a bad day, you sing "Snuggle Puppy." 

And if I could I would reach across the world and hug you." Love, Taylor 

(With a baseball card glued on the bottom for me) :) 

On the morning of Valentine's Day, Taylor had been upset about getting up later than he wanted and he  lost his temper.  We worked it out and he was sent to school with hugs and kisses. That night when we sat down for our devotions using our Lenten wreath, I mentioned the verse from 1 Peter 4:8: "Above all, love each other deeply for love covers over a multitude of sins..."  We read our letters to each other and then offered time for anyone to put the toothpicks in our purple wreath for any "I'm sorry's".

Taylor picked up a toothpick and mentioned the morning time when he lost his temper.  This is real life- the roses and thorns together and the place to bring it all around the table where God forgives us, Christ renews us and the Spirit enables us to grow in love.  It seemed appropriate to have Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day right next to each other this year as a reminder of this very truth. One post I read yesterday called "Ashes and Roses" is from a favorite blog of mine that Winn Collier writes, and he reflects on this as well:  "Though calendars collide for no good reason, I find it timely that yesterday we were marked with ashes and today we celebrate love. Surely there’s a rhythm there. Dropping our pretense, lowering our guard and welcoming mercy makes all the rest of it possible."  http://winncollier.com/ashes-and-roses/

ashes from the Ash Wednesday service 

What is love? Is it a feeling in your heart? The Bible says Love is much more: it is patient and kind, 

never bears a grudge, doesn’t demand its own way, always wants the best for someone else, 

never puts itself first, never gets jealous, isn’t proud, doesn’t boast, isn’t rude, always hopes, 

never stops. Oh dear, that’s quite a list. Who can love like that? Only one. 

He left his father and his throne and came to live with us. 

And showed us what love was really like. Because, you see, Love isn’t mostly a list. It’s a Person.  

-Sally Lloyd Jones Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing

I read this yesterday as well and loved the honesty and poignancy of this as well

 (and love that this author reflected on the same verse as I had shared from 1 Peter): 

"I'm thankful today for my family.  Our life isn't perfect, but it sure is good.

I'm completely humbled that God has given us to each other.

I wouldn't choose any other family's "crazy" over ours.

It's amazing to have people love you despite your flaws and many weaknesses.
Every single day~
...someone is impatient.
...someone is unkind.
...someone is proud.
...someone gets offended.
...someone is rude.
...someone is selfish.
...someone looks out only for their own interests.
...someone jokes at another's expense.
But, in the midst of it all, there is a love that always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love conquers all and covers a multitude of sins.
We're making our fair share of mistakes over here, but our kids are loved beyond words.
Hope you're celebrating your special family tonight.
We kept it simple with homemade pizza and cupcakes...

eating by candlelight makes everything fancier."

http://tarahlowry.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-soft-place-to-land.html