Happy Valentine's Day!

I needed to buy a gift for a "Galentine's Day Lunch" -- credit to Leslie Knope for the name.

I headed to Bath & Body Works since almost everyone I know loves candles. Right there on the front display was one of their new scents: Love.

Intriguing.

What does love smell like?

According to Bath and Body Works, it smells pretty good.

It seems to me that love should smell like blood, sweat, and tears. (I don't suppose those candles would sell very well, though.)

Love requires sacrifice . . . like when we care for a helpless child through an illness (or a helpless husband).

Love requires commitment -- true grit (also not a popular smell) . . . like when we choose to stand with our spouse who's going through emotional turmoil and isn't too fun to be around.

Love requires work. It doesn't just flow through us like rainbows oblivious to how we accidentally (or intentionally, at times) hurt one another.

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." 1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4-7‬ (NLT)

Love does come through blood, sweat, and tears, but it creates a beautiful, sweet aroma when given freely and unselfishly.

On this Valentine's day, may we love each other with the unconditional love that God has freely and unselfishly shown us.