Welcome to February — the Love Month

If only we would keep it going — “You mean the world to me, and my life wouldn’t be the same without you.” Now that is a sentence worth repeating.

February rolls in — wrapped in hearts and chocolate, and I like to call it Love Month. If only all the nastiness and noise would take a sabbatical for twenty-eight days.

My smidgen of decor’ at our front door is a reminder for our friends and us — to do our best to love — no matter the who, the when and the where! When we show love — we are imitating our God — Who loved so greatly that He gave His only Son to us. (John 3:16) And best of all is when we show His love to others!

Imagine it — unkind words taking a break, harsh opinions softening, and love getting a little more airtime. Who knows? We might decide to keep it going.

We all know a few folks who are — let’s say, challenging. I once crossed paths regularly with a man whose pessimistic attitude could bring dark clouds. Pessimism was his gift — and not a good one. Bless his heart — he could find a rain cloud in the Sahara.

I used to dodge him like a pothole. But one day, courage won. With a smile and a deep breath, I said, “Do you realize how negative you sound when there’s so much to be thankful for?”

I braced myself. Instead, he apologized. Truly. And word on the street is, he became a better version of himself. Turns out, he didn’t need avoiding. He needed loving truth.

That’s how God designed us. We shape one another.
Look at what we share:
• We are all God’s children.
• We all want to love and be loved.
• We’re made in His image.
• We carry hopes, hurts, gifts, and dreams.
• And yes — we’re all works in progress. (Please be patient. God’s not finished yet.)

Scripture reminds us, “Two are better than one… if one falls, the other can help them up” (Ecclesiastes 4). And Jesus made it unmistakably clear: “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15)

We really are better together.
So this Love Month, let’s resist crossing the street to avoid the cranky souls. Maybe — just maybe — God wants to use us to help someone remember who they are becoming.

After all, love is what He does best. And He invites us to do the same — every day and every month of the year.

“Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14