A valentine . . . from God?

The class party was over. The valentines I’d received were tucked into my backpack and my candy treats into my lunchbox. But the best part of Valentine’s Day was still waiting at home. Every year, my mom made a treasure hunt for my sister and me. There were clues hidden all over the house and a surprise at the end. 

The first clue—a rhyme!—was sitting on the dining room table. From there, I followed my mom’s verses to the laundry room, then to the swing set in the backyard, and finally to my sock drawer. Inside was a valentine from my parents with a book from one of my favorite series. I felt so loved, and I ran to thank my mom right away.

Of course, we don’t have to wait for Valentine’s Day to feel loved. And we don’t even have to wait for our parents or grandparents or friends to tell us that we’re loved in order to feel safe, happy, and comforted. That’s because every day at every moment you’re getting lots and lots of love messages straight from God—divine Love.

In Christian Science Sunday School, our class read about how to recognize these messages. Mary Baker Eddy, who discovered Christian Science, explained it this way: “. . . we know their presence by the love they create in our hearts” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 306).

So we know God is loving us when we hear a good thought telling us that we’re smart, creative, or kind. We know we’re getting a love message from God when we have an idea about how to be a peacemaker, or how to choose loving words when we talk to someone in our family. And God’s valentines also give us love in our hearts for others—like when we feel inspired to do something nice for someone or to smile at a neighbor on the sidewalk.

Some of these messages even come printed on paper just like a real valentine. You can find them in the Bible and in all of Mrs. Eddy’s books, including Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. Here are a couple of love messages just for you:

“I [God] have always loved you, so I continue to show you my constant love” (Jeremiah 31:3, Good News Translation).

“Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need” (Science and Health, p. 494).

On days when we’re feeling sad or grumpy, we might have to look or listen a little harder for God’s messages of love. But they’re still there for us. Like on the day I wrote this article for you—I was having a pretty bad afternoon. But as I mentally shut the door on all the crummy thoughts and got quiet inside, I started hearing all sorts of good and loving thoughts. And I knew those thoughts were from God, since God is good and is Love. The more I listened to those good thoughts, the better I felt, until the bad stuff disappeared altogether, and only love was left.

It wasn’t even Valentine’s Day, but I’d still gotten a little glimpse of God’s infinite treasures of love. You can, too—today and every day. That’s because God’s love is always there for you. No treasure hunt necessary to find it!

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