Our youngest daughter and her new husband are so in love. Romantic love is a powerful thing. But there is something more powerful. God’s love. Romantic love ebbs and flows. God’s love never fails, 1 Corinthians 13:8.

I’m taking an online course right now on Thursday nights. Last night, I had homework. Email seven to fifteen people and ask them to tell me what I naturally do better than most people, and what is one thing that is unique to me? I had trouble selecting seven people to email. I couldn’t imagine emailing fifteen. So stirring up my courage, I put the question on Facebook, asking friends to tell me what I do well. The point of the exercise is to discover my strengths.

To my surprise, a lot of people said I was good at loving.  As I thought about this, I realized my life is full of love. Years ago I decided I was going to risk loving people. Even loving those who didn’t like me. Even loving those whose lives were a disaster. Even loving when love hurt me. I knew I couldn’t do this in my own strength, so I prayed that God would fill me with his love so I could share the kind of love that never fails.

What I learned was that when you love someone, most of the time, they will love you back. Maybe not at first, but keep loving them. Almost everyone truly loved will eventually return your love.

I am so very grateful for all the love in my life these days.

I want to encourage you to love people. Not just in your own strength, but in the power of God’s love. Pray for God to fill you with his love. Love when it’s hard. Love now because you may not get to love tomorrow. I am so grateful that the last time I saw Anna, I told her I loved her. Those were my last words to her.

Telling people you love them is very important. Truly loving them is even more important. The Bible says these things remain: faith, hope, and love, and the greatest of these is love.  1 Corinthians 13:13.

I hope you like the look of our new blog. I say “our” because Scott has joined me on this journey to serve you. We are stepping into something new, and excited to see where the Lord takes us this year. We will do our best to continue to live authentically before you, sharing our family and farm’s triumphs and failures, laughing and weeping with you, working hard, and hopefully loving you in the power of God’s love.

Praying you feel loved today.