Year 8, Weeks 21 and 22: Just Love

     I often have an issue with the month of February. For one it's short, making the end of the first quarter of the year approach faster than needed. Then there's Valentine's day, which let's be honest...it's all about the doubled prices on that day (call me cynical, but also frugal...wait until all the chocolate goes on clearance! Hee-hee). My husband and I have never really fallen prey to felt the need to go all out on Valentine's Day choosing instead to do something as a family. We order the heart-shaped pizza and we pick a treat we can all share:

     February also marks Black History Month. I once took a humanities class in which the instructor, a fellow homeschooler, shared that she was trying to curate a number of books that would help her soon-to-be high schooler learn world history that wasn't "white-washed" (her words, not mine). I appreciated that. I've told my kids and continue to remind them that when they read books, especially non-fiction, to know when it was written, to understand the perspective of the author and think about the underlying message they're trying to manifest.  As we know, especially apparent more so than ever, much can be biasedly written or biasedly read. There's a certain amount of discernment and plenty of critical thinking needed when perusing everything presented to us, whether in the news, social media or in print.

     When it comes down to it, if everything we did or said was out of love, a lot of things would be much, much better. Easier said then done for all of us, I know. We're naturally selfish; we think we know better than anyone else, we think we have all the answers...we make ourselves gods. How pretentious of us!

     The greatest love my family and I know is that of God's love for the WHOLE WORLD (not some, not part, but WHOLE) to sacrifice His only Son for each and every one of our sins; so that we are forgiven and made pure before Him. That is love...the complete sacrifice of oneself for the benefit of another who is underserving. Happy Valentine's Day.