Reach for love to conquer terrible, rotten days


Have you ever had a one of those “terrible, rotten days” when you are just radiating bad mood vibes? Well I have discovered that there are certain times of the year that promote that type of day.
I work in an office with mostly women. Several of those women are single. That idea you get from commercials and sales pitches about Valentine’s Day being the most romantic day of the year and everyone is happy and in love? Not so for everyone. In fact, for some people it is one of those “terrible, rotten days.”
The moods of the female population of our newsroom on Valentine’s Day sent the lone male occupant scurrying for cover.
The husbands and boyfriends of those paired up in the office who scored big with their loving gestures had other eyes in the office blazing green with envy. Those green eyes made that beautiful vase of roses sitting on a coworkers desk appear as repulsive as a steaming pile of dog poo.
Just the words Valentines or love evoked looks of malice. The expression “love you” was changed to “love stinks.” It was definitely not an atmosphere of love and romance. In fact, anyone coming into the office was well advised to have their shield up coming through the door and full armor on by the time they reached the newsroom. And if that someone happened to be male, look out!
As eyes welled with tears and the females worked hard to bolster each other’s spirits with humor and small Valentine gifts to each other, I was reminded of something my pastor spoke on just a couple days ago. We are not to envy other people but to be happy for them.
We are to love one another as God loves us. Love does not envy – love rejoices.
1 Corinthians 13:4 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”
We shouldn’t be mad because someone got something we didn’t get but be happy for them and know that good things are coming our way in the right time.
When we walk with God we are filled with love and what we, or others, have or don’t have does not matter. Instead we strive to bless others and to share our love with them.
Sharing our love with others is a blessing to them and inspires others. It can lift other people up and help them move closer to God. God uses people to bless people.
Even if your desk is void of that vase of flowers or box of chocolates, that does not mean you aren’t loved. You have the greatest love of all – God’s love. Let God be your Valentine. It doesn’t get any better than that.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35