~ What True Love Looks Like

We started our day with love words.

Daddy got up early to make red velvet cupcakes. He knows they're my favorite.

Before the frosting was stirred together and before we started school, we paused at the table to read them...

Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not boast,

It is not proud.

It is not rude,

It is not self-seeking,

It is not easily angered,

It keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil

But rejoices with the truth.

It always protects,

Always trusts,

Always hopes,

Always perseveres.

Love never fails.

We talked to the boys about what real love looks like, and we each chose a characteristic of love to work on today.

We closed the Bible and I told them a story.

Once upon a time...

And I told them about that special Valentine's Day 26 years ago when he dressed himself from head-to-toe in every shade of red imaginable and asked me if I would sign his ticket and be his date - his prize for wearing the most red at a Valentine's party.

What I don't tell them is how young and naive I was.

What I didn't tell them is how I felt all wobbly inside.

What I didn't tell them is that I only thought I knew what love was.

What I didn't tell them is that their Daddy has spent every day since that Valentine's Day teaching me what true love looks like - how real love is selfless and humble and worth fighting for.

On that day so long ago when he stood before me with the pen and that sweet hopeful look on his face, love was just a tiny wish -

a hope that I would say yes.

And after 26 years, I can tell you what true love is -

It's choosing every day to say YES!

Ken, I said "Yes" then because you were cute and you made me feel all goofy inside.

Today, I say "Yes" because I know that true love demands it

(and because you still make me feel all goofy inside!)

Happy Valentine's Day!

I love You!