Love in a Box

Every year around Valentine’s Day I can expect a visitor on my doorstep bearing a gift. As far back as I can remember, the gift has been the same. The size has varied from time to time, but the shape and the contents have not. Neither has the heart from which it’s given. My dad shows up with this:

Love in a box



And the best word I can use to describe this annual display of affection is faithful.

I have been blessed with two great parents, but today I want to focus on my dad. I have heard before that we tend to view God through the lens of our fathers, so I’m thankful today that I have been blessed with a good one. And I’m thinking that his faithful yearly Valentine gift surely wouldn’t be as meaningful as it is if it weren’t for the love expressed in countless ways throughout the year. Just this week he plowed snow out of my loooong lane at least four times. Also this week he took my boys on a hike in the woods behind our house through the deep snow to look for animal tracks. He spent much of last summer fixing up an area on his farm for a picnic site for his family, including building a shelter with the works. There’s just not enough space to tell about all he’s done (nor am I even aware of everything), but you get the picture.

His constant love led me to thinking about Another’s. One who is Faithful and True. One who for Eternity has shown and promises to show constant devotion. Sometimes we tend to forget how He daily sustains us and gives us each moment. We’re good at remembering at Easter or during times of crisis. Yet if we look closely, we can see His lovingkindness shown each and every day. And that makes what He did even more meaningful . . . the one time He appeared on the doorstep of the world as a gift in a feed trough. The Original Love in a Box.

Love in a Box