Gardner Greeting

Valentine's Day. For some, it's about gifts like chocolate and flowers, and for others, it means increased dread about how to let that special someone in your life know that you REALLY love them. I know early in our marriage that was the case for my precious groom: "Chocolate? No, that will work against her weight loss plans. Flowers? No, she'll say that they cost too much right now." Added to that, when he would ask me for ideas, I would genuinely say, "I don't need anything." Oh the stress that poor man felt!

What we have learned in our 16 years of marriage is that neither one of us "receives love" by giving gifts. Our primary "love language" is spending quality time together. Take me out to dinner, snuggle with me on the couch, watch a movie with me, take me on a cruise (hint, hint). Yes, that makes my heart leap with happiness way more than some major BLING on my finger. I love to spend time with my husband. I love those moments when I'm with him and all the stress of the day just melts away. I don't need anything monetary from him-just his presence and attention.

I wonder if that is how God often feels about His relationship with us. We often occupy ourselves wondering, "What does God want from me today?" or "What can I do for God today?" And, then we worry that what we have "given" God just didn't please Him. And yet so often, God just wants us to give Him our undivided attention and that makes His heart leap with joy. He wants relationship with us above all else.

A fellow friend of God,

Amy

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