love

This is part of a note that a friend shared with me (along with candy and flowers, because I have the most loving friends!).  But I thought it was worth sharing forward:

"Jesus condensed the Ten Commandments into two: "Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love others as yourself." (Mark 12:30-31) "[Jesus said] 'I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other.'" (John 13:34)  "He said the love we have for one another will prove to the world that we are his followers." (John 13:35)
Once we experience God's lavish, unconditional love, the only reasonable response is to share that love with others.  Jesus also gave a command that appears illogical and impossible: "We are to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us." (Luke 6:27)  Our natural tendency is to love only those who love us, which Jesus said is no credit to us.
The selfless love He describes can be expressed only with supernatural help from God's spirit, but it offers the world an undeniable witness of God's transforming love and power.
Maybe we should use February 14th to reach out to those who don't come to mind when we think of Valentines."