This weekend many people will celebrate a holiday. Some refer to it as Singles' Awareness Day...which is just SAD. :) For others, it's simply Valentine's Day, a time to be celebrate love. They may buy cheesy gifts like the Hug-E-Gram or a giant stuffed gorilla that's the size of a three-year old. Or they may simply treasure a perfect moment with someone else and think, "How did I ever get so lucky? So blessed? To experience this kind of love?"
But do you remember when Valentine's Day was a little more simple--and yet, still amazing--for virtually everyone?
I remember elementary school Valentine's Day parties where my classmates and I decorated special envelopes with our names. I brought cards (and usually candy) for every kid in my class. I thought carefully and wrote something completely deep and poetic on every card...like "You're cool." or just "Your friend, Jonita." But didn't it feel amazing to get cards from 24 other kids?!? To celebrate the simple love of friends?
The love we have with and for our friends can be very simple...or deep...in its beauty. Friendship is a special kind of love. It's something that we can choose, but yet some friendships have the fingerprints of being God-ordained.
I loved reading about the friendship of David and Jonathan in today's passage. Though his father tried to murder David, Jonathan's friendship with David was so strong that it outweighed family ties. Take a look at his words here:
"...May God do his worst to me if I let you down!
If my father still intends to kill you,
I'll tell you and get you out of here in one piece.
And God be with you as he's been with my father!
If I make it through this alive, continue to be my covenant friend.
And if I die, keep the covenant friendship with my family—forever.
And when God finally rids the earth of David's enemies, stay loyal to Jonathan!"
Jonathan repeated his pledge of love and friendship for David.
He loved David more than his own soul!
Wow. The friend love of David and Jonathan was defined by commitment and sacrifice. Those are gifts that definitely beat Hug-E-Grams. :) Be that kind of friend. And if you have experienced friend love like that, consider yourself amazingly blessed. Take a moment to say "thank you" or send an actual card (not an e-mail). I promise--even if it says, "You're cool", a true friend will appreciate it.
P.S. BONUS! Last year, I wrote a little bit more about the friendship of David & Jonathan--check out this post called "Super Sidekicks."
Tomorrow: 1 Samuel 21-24
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