This post was most recently updated on May 18th, 2015

Today is Valentine’s Day. My 6-year old woke me at 3:30 this morning complaining of a tummy ache. Unfortunately, she complained about it loudly enough that she also woke the sleeping 15 month old who, even more unfortunately, still resides in our master bedroom. I stumbled out of bed and got her some crackers – she’s got a bit of a cold and I figured the drainage from her sinuses had hit her tummy and landed badly. She said they were helping and when I left her a while later, she was watching Teen Titans on the DVR, eating her crackers and drinking some cran-raspberry juice from her Hello Kitty travel mug. By the glow of her twinkle lights. I tried to go back to sleep, but the baby was tossing and turning (obviously having the same trouble I was having returning to slumber-land) and after an hour or so I finally decided to just give up.

My point is that there’s not much in the way of romantic getaways or fancy Valentine’s celebrations going on around here. But even though my Valentine didn’t bring me chocolates or flowers or even a glittery card – I know for certain that he loves me above all others. So I’d like to say a few (or more likely – a lot of) words about LOVE.

Love takes many different forms. We love our parents and siblings. We love our spouses. We love our friends and our pets. Some of us love chocolate a little too much for our own good. (it’s not me … I have this friend …) There is the selfless kind of love we have for our children – that’s the love that has us giving up any hope of a romantic evening with our Valentine without regret when someone spikes a fever of 102. Most of us have a certain empathetic love for our fellow man. I love football and Air Supply and watermelon Jolly Ranchers. My husband loves Kiss and cheesecake and “Quigley Down Under.” Sooo many levels of love …

The Scripture tells us that love is patient and kind. Love is not easily angered. Love always trusts and hopes. Well … while I’m sure that may be the intended spirit of love, I can personally attest to the fact that love does, in fact, get angry. My love isn’t always patient or even particularly kind, sometimes. But it is steadfast and it does persevere. And it never, never fails. Love has never failed to bring my husband and I back together after disagreement. Love has never failed to urge me to look beyond my own desires and see the needs of my children. Love has never failed to put kindness in my greeting to a friend. Love has never failed to bring patience to my spirit when it is most needed or hope when I am at the point of desperation. Love. Never. Fails.

It is love that pulls me from my bed every morning and love that propels me to care for my family, even when I feel like I’d rather kick back with my feet up and read a book. Love brings me beyond my own selfishness. It’s love that pushes my husband to work harder to provide for our family. Love delivers him from weariness and frustration. And love brings my children together in shared laughter over the baby’s antics or the dog’s silly play. Love lifts them above their childish sibling squabbles.

I believe with all my heart and soul that love can and will help us prevail over every obstacle in our path because in all my life – before and after marriage – love has never failed. While it may not be the soul-transforming experience depicted in books or movies, love is still pretty awesome. And even though there are no roses or expensive dinners on my personal horizon, I feel pretty freaking awesome about love.

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