I was a Valentine's Day baby. Thus, every year, my father brought home two boxes of chocolates in heart-shaped boxes, one for my mother, and one for me. How my child's heart loved him for that heart filled with sweets!

Fast forward to the twenty-first century, and I'm a widow sitting home alone on my birthday. I was feeling a wee bit sorry for myself, so I tooled out to the local convenience store and bought a bag of Hershey's Kisses Brand Milk Chocolates. I tore back home and took out an old Valentine's heart-shaped box that my son had given me the previous year. Then, I filled the thing with candy kisses, but not until I'd eaten one. I sang, "Happy Birthday to me." My half-and-half Golden Retriever/chow crossbreed sat at my feet salivating. I turned to her and said, "No chocolates for you, Princess. You'll be sick." I gave her a doggie treat, instead.

The next day was Sunday. I hopped in the car and left for church. Princess was sleeping in her bed. When I returned, the heart-shaped box was on the floor with bits of foil wrapper scattered everywhere and not a single chocolate in sight. I finally found Princess hiding beneath my bed looking none too well. I called the veterinarian who told me how to help her.

As I thought back on these two very different Valentine's Days, I could remember how loved I felt when my father gave me that heartfelt candy. On the other hand, Princess eating candy kisses brought the Genesis account of Adam and Eve hiding in the Garden of Eden to mind. God's love gave them every fruit tree to eat except the sin-poisoned one. We all know what happened. Like my dog, they ate what was poison for them with the same result. They didn't feel so good afterward. Thank God, the story didn't end there. God took measures in order to fix the situation.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (KJV)

God's love wouldn't allow sin to win. Instead, God came in Christ Jesus to abolish sin for everyone who believes in Him. You may have heard this passage before, but for me, those words made my heart sing.

Prayer: Loving God, "I will love thee, O Lord, my strength" (Psalm 18:1), for You have done great things and have saved us from the poison of sin, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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About the author:

Cassandra Wessel <casswessel4319@gmail.com>
Tionesta, Pennsylvania, USA
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