'To love others as Jesus loves us'

Socrates once said, "The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be." Wouldn't it be wonderful if we were as nice and loving every day as we try to be on Valentine's Day? If we couldn't wait to make someone else smile, if hearts were shared and not broken, and if it were all about the OTHER person instead of about us?

Timmy was a first-grader, new to his school, and an outcast. Daily his mother watched him from her kitchen window as he got off the school bus and walked down the sidewalk to their home. Daily she cringed as she saw other children get off at the same stop, laughing, skipping, and talking, while Timmy walked several steps behind, alone. Daily she was heart-broken for her little boy and secretly wondered how children could be so cruel.

About two weeks before Valentine's Day, Timmy asked his mother if they could buy some crafts to make valentines for each person in his class. He had heard Jennie talking. She loved balloons, and so he could cut one of out construction paper and put her name on it. Ryan was into Transformers; it would take a little more work, but Timmy just knew he could draw it and even accordion its legs. On and on he went, describing in detail what every student in his class was into. Timmy's mother lovingly discouraged him from putting that much effort into the occasion, knowing that there was a chance her son might not get anything in return. Timmy was relentless.

On Valentine's morning Timmy's mom watched him carefully place his creations into his backpack. Excitedly he headed toward the bus stop, carrying his own decorated box, slit down the top for the cards he hoped to receive.

That afternoon Timmy's mother made a special batch of cookies, a sort of pick-me-up in case the day hadn't gone as planned. When the bus arrived, she saw her little boy bound from its step, running ahead of the other kids, holding his box in front of him, beaming. As he entered the kitchen and laid his box on the table, she noticed it was empty. "Not a one, Mom. Not a one." Timmy was smiling from ear to ear. This made no sense.

"Not a one, Mom" he continued. "I didn't forget a one!"

John 13 tells us to love others as Jesus loves us.'Jesus didn't say, "Do the best you can to love." "Love with flowers and balloons and chocolates once a year." He tells us to love as He did. His was genuine. Minute-by-minute. Everlasting. Ever-giving.

Maybe Socrates had it right. Maybe it's time we learn to love the way we pretend to love. Not just on February 14. Every day. Even if we get nothing back. Just like Timmy. Just like Jesus.