The Greatest of These is Love

I know better than to walk in my youngest's Kindergarten class for "Pastries with Parents" without a tissue! It seems like yesterday I was just in there with my oldest one and was totally caught off guard by what was about to happen.

Our kids were blessed with the same Kindergarten teacher and folks...she's fabulous. I mean it. I couldn't have picked a better one for both of them. At the end of the year, they do this program where they bring in the parents and celebrate both Mother's and Father's Day, as well as the Kindergarten year as a whole . The kids have worked hard at making various little things showing us how much they love us.

This year we were surprised with a new treasure. An adorable slide show of artwork done by each student. When each child's artwork came up (they drew pictures of their family!), they had also recorded their voices over it proclaiming why they each loved their family. I'm sorry...can you pass me a tissue, please?

What I had totally forgotten about was the additional slide show this teacher does each year. She puts all the pictures taken of the class all year into a heartfelt presentation that starts off to the song, "I Can See Clearly Now". Killer. Other songs played while showing photos of our sweet little ones at the Pumpkin Patch, Reading with the Eagles, field trips and just around the school. It wrapped up with Kenny Loggins' "Return to Pooh Corner" ballad and by then, everyone was mush. Pardon me...will you please just toss me the entire box of tissues?

So today I was reminded, once again, of the importance of family. Every day I get a reminder (thank you, God) and I'm so incredibly blessed I notice those reminders. Nothing else really matters on this planet. It is the only, and I mean only, thing you can not replace.

We had 1st Corinthians 13 read at our wedding, as do many couples. Verse 13 is what I keep hearing these days..."And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:7). Love is one of those deep emotions that has staying power. It gives us the ability to grow, feel, change and even forgive.

The greatest is love. Is it always easy? Of course not. He never said it would be. In fact, He usually requires us to work for our growth. What in life that is worth having is easy? Not to imply it's hard either, but it's not a given. Otherwise, you take it for granted...believe me. But...it's always there in our hearts just waiting to be turned loose. Don't be afraid to work at it, let someone hear about it and get it just the way you want it. Then, once you do, hold on and don't let go.