It’s February. The month of “love”. Before I could even take the ornaments off of our Christmas tree I saw chunky, little cupids and paper heart doilies emerging on store shelves.
Oh, Valentine’s Day. The day of heart-shaped boxes, over-sized teddy bears, and cheesy sentiments.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not against this day. I go through the motions of Valentine’s Day, too. My girls pass out handmade, glittery cards to their friends and we usually make a delicious, pink frosted dessert of some kind. My husband writes me a sweet note and we enjoy the day like everyone else.
But after being on this journey of trying to really know my Savior and who He is, I have learned that love is much more than candy hearts and glitter.
Love is a sacrifice.
When my husband gets home from a long day at work and I am already too exhausted to care…
When my three girls are dancing on my very last nerve and all I want to do is yell and lose my patience…
When I feel like I can’t possibly have anything left to give to a friend who needs a listening ear…
When I sense the sweet and gentle calling of my precious Jesus but I’m already all tucked in and ready to sleep…
I will choose to give a sacrifice of love.
But how can we, as flawed and sometimes exhausted women, really walk this out. How do we know how to love like this when many of us have never been given this type of love here on earth? How do we know what love is?
We know true love when we know the one true God.
1 John 4:8 tells us “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
1 John 3:16 tells us how we know love: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
John 3:16, perhaps one of the most well-known bible verses of all time, reminds us of God’s sacrifice of love for US: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
To know God, is to know love. To give love, even when it hurts and costs us something, is to give God. I think this is amazing.
And even though the sacrifice of love is costly and at times painful, I can guarantee that the reward far outweighs the sacrifice.
Love is a sacrifice but love is the greatest prize.
Even though I fall short most days, I try to live out the the love that 1 Corinthians 13 speaks of:
“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. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”
I’m going to need a lot of glue and glitter to put that on a Valentine….
May we all learn to love like He has so graciously loved us.
By Ida Mundell, Eat Drink and Be Jesus
Leave a Comment
Nate Mundell says
Very awesome
You are the best writer and wife I know:)
Ida Mundell says
Thanks, babe.
You’re the best husband I know 🙂
Theresa says
This was beautiful! The sacrifice is hard even when the love of Jesus is there…it truly is an act of the will. Thanks for the reminder and know that you are not alone in your struggle…to love : )
Ida Mundell says
Thank you, Theresa!
Lauren says
Glad to call you a friend. I love you and appreciate your great big, glittery, sweet, candy heart (thanks to Jesus of course!)
Ida Mundell says
Right back at you, friend! Love!!!
Beth Williams says
Powerful message.
I have 1 Corinthians 13 beautifully hand written with flowers pressed on bottom and my hubbys and name on it in my bathroom – it was a wedding gift from a group of women.
I agree it is sometimes hard to show love when you are feeling yucky & tired from work, but somehow we as women always manage to go one step further!
Thanks for the encouragement!
Ida Mundell says
Beth,
That sounds beautiful. You’ve inspired me to grab a canvas and paint 🙂
steph rollins says
Loved this-thanks for the reminder that LOVE isn’t always the birds and the glitter, but the sacrifice part of it. Awesome word today 🙂
Ida Mundell says
Thanks, friend!
I Live in an Antbed says
Precious.
Ida Mundell says
Thanks 🙂
Heidi Lindsey says
What a beautiful reminder to start out the day. Thank you, Ida!!!
Ida Mundell says
Love you, friend. You are an inspiration in this area for sure!!
Kim says
perfect. thank you, dear friend!
Ida Mundell says
love you! you’re welcome!
Tamra says
Hope you don’t mind, I want to repost a quote from your writing on my facebook, it spoke volumes to me today, thank you.
Ida Mundell says
I don’t mind at all! Thank you for sharing it!
Living the Balanced Life says
Love this. Love.
Bernice
Ida Mundell says
Thank you, Bernice!
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Diana Mourey says
You go Girl. God has alot in store for you. Things to do, places to go, and things to say!! Love ya. Diana
Ida Mundell says
Love you, Diana 🙂 Thanks!
KELLY TOWNSEND says
TOTALLY AWESOME IDA!! THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOURSELF AND THE TRUE MEANING OF LOVE!! GOD BLESS! LOVE YOU!
Ida Mundell says
Thanks, Kelly. Love to you, too!
Ann Voskamp@Holy Experience says
This: “Love is a sacrifice but love is the greatest prize.”
So it’s worth the race.
Thank you, Ida… for spurring us on….
All’s grace,
Ann
Ida Mundell says
Ann,
The “love is a sacrifice but love is a greatest prize” came to me originally while at my piano during a night of worship. Your reply, about the race, is helping me finish the song that He started. Thank you. It IS worth the race!
and…
I’m just getting home from our book club, “Morning Bagels with Jesus” :-), and today we started your beautiful book. Your words are touching our hearts in a deep way. Thank you for sharing yourself with all of us!
in HIS love,
Ida
Patty says
Good stuff : ) Thanks Ida!
Ida Mundell says
Thanks, Patty!
Reese says
Ida, thank you for your words! I pray my home and my heart are altar’s of sacrificial love.
Ida Mundell says
My prayer echoes yours, Reese. Have a great day!
chrissynoelle says
Thanks sweet sister for your encouragement.
I love your heart and friendship.
Chrissy
Ida Mundell says
Right back at you my friend!
heidi moreau says
you become more beautiful everyday..as your love for Him & for others grows. I should probably read this every morning to remind myself, once again, that it’s not about me. If only I could tell of how your sacrifice of unconditional love literally saved my life. These words are life-changing…& this is only the beginning because these are not just words, but your life. Love you bestie. <3
Ida Mundell says
Oh, Hides…you made me cry!
I love you my precious friend. We have been through a lot together and it just goes to show that LOVE is ALWAYS worth the sacrifice!!!
xoxoxo
heidi moreau says
I should read this every morning to remind myself, once again, that it’s not about me. If only I could tell of how your sacrifice of unconditional love literally saved my life. These words are life-changing…& this is only the beginning because these are not just words, but your life. Love you bestie. <3
heidi moreau says
I should read this every morning to remind myself, once again, that it’s not about me. If only I could tell of how your sacrifice of unconditional love literally saved my life. These words are life-changing…& this is only the beginning because these are not just words, but your life. Love you bestie.
heidi moreau says
Ides…
so sorry I posted a million times! Every time I hit the “post” button it told me it couldn’t go through so I thought perhaps it was too long (which is why each one is shorter lol) Just read the first one, that’s the original 🙂
love you!!!
Mika Paz says
Ida,
I finally found your blog! (I’m new to this world of blogging – or reading them :)). This is beautiful. I love your insight and Godly wisdom. “Love is a sacrifice” reminds me of a quote from this great speaker I heard named Jill Briscoe. She said “the doing comes from the being.” (I know it seems like a stretch, so bear with me.) “1 John 4:8 tells us ‘Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.'” So to know God – to be with Him – equips us to do – to love sacrificially. So the more we know God, are with God, are bathed in His word, the more we can love when it is so hard. In the short time I’ve know you, it is so evident that you know God because you love well and bless so many with your words. Thanks for this post and for being you!
Mika
Ida Mundell says
Mika, thank you for your kind words!!!! They are a treasure to me! SO happy to be getting to know you 🙂