Everyday Living

Unconditional Love

~ Everyday Living, Faith, Family, Valentines Day

Happy Valentine’s Day sweet friends. I hope you have a wonderful day spending time with the ones you love. As many of you know, my Renaissance Man started writing Simple + Southern Sunday a couple of years ago. I only help occasionally with the photography. RM is a man of many talents and one is his unique style of writing. I asked if he would write a Valentine post and he graciously agreed.

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:1-2‬ ‭
‭

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.”
~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

The 19th Century English poet went on to write of love’s many ways in her poem, “How Do I love Thee?” (Sonnet 43). 
As I was thinking on God’s love for all people, many ways came to mind, but then I wondered…could I sum up His love for you and me in one word? After some thought I came up with this word…unconditional!

It can be difficult to comprehend and overwhelming to accept that God loves me without conditions. That kind of love is hard to relate to because I know myself and I’m thinking, why would He? This is hard because our human nature is so different from God. Our love is so often based on, I will love you “if”…! Fill in the blanks. Seems God has no “if’s” in the love category!
 

Do you have Valentine traditions or a special Valentine’s Day memory? We keep things simple, but of course the day typically revolves around food and sweets. But doesn’t every occasion! 

I have a Valentine memory from 15 years ago. I woke up one day to see balloons floating above me that had red hearts and “Be My Valentine” on them. I was in a hospital bed and had not known anything for almost a month. This is one of my first conscious memories. I’ve never been big on balloons but those were a welcome sight!

Pam and I were married on February 23 so we just celebrate love the entire month. This is our 49th year!

There are certain things that are automatically linked with romance, dating, love, and marriage…like flowers and cards for example. But possibly nothing is as closely connected to it all as is music. Would you agree? There must be a song or perhaps many songs that are dear to you as it relates to loving and being loved. The role music plays in all this is amazing. Most songs are love songs. Which songs hold a special place in your heart and mind when you think on special people and special occasions? We have many! Songs can take you back to a time and place like nothing else can!

I did sing to Pam at our wedding. That wasn’t done very much back in yesteryear but maybe more common today. I didn’t write the song but since then I have written several specifically for couples for their wedding. One of those songs was for our son and his sweet bride. PJ recently shared a portion of the lyrics on a Valentine post and I would love to share all the lyrics with you.

How long, do I promise to love you?
How long, do I promise to hold you?
When it comes to sharing life with you, how long do I need?
Forever is long enough!

How long, do I need you to love me?
How long, do I need you to hold me?
As we join our hearts as one, tell me, how long do we need?
Forever is long enough!

The bridge and final chorus are based on Revelation 19:

When a voice rings out with shouts and cries like thunder.
When a multitude exalts the Holy One.
When the Lamb of God, invites His Bride to come,
and the wedding of the ages has begun…

How long, will we dwell with the Father?
How long, will we rest in His presence?
And when it comes to spending time with Him, how long do we need?
Forever is long enough!
~Butch Richardson


We are enduring difficult times and a toxic culture where there is not much love expressed, especially in places like social media. I hope that each of you realize that you are loved (see Romans 5:8 for proof) and that today you find a way to be a blessing to someone. Whether it’s to tell someone you love them or just a kind word to a stranger, it really makes a difference. 

I think most of you realize that today’s pics are compliments of Pam. The writing might be my style but not the photos. Those are her creations and I love them all!

For some additional Valentine thoughts, please check out a previous post called “The Greatest Love”!

Linking with:
 Pieced Pastimes,  Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
 Imparting Grace,Life and Linda

 

Comments

  1. Good Morning Pam and Butch! Thank you for the sweet message of love and beautiful photos. Happy Valentine’s Day to you and Happy Anniversary Month. ♥

    Reply

  2. Good Morning dearest friends… Happy Valentine’s Day and Happy Anniversary Month!

    God’s love is forever…❤️ I thank God everyday for his love. A beautiful message filled with lovely photographs.

    Enjoy this special day together. ❤️

    Reply

  4. I am new to the blog. I opened up beautiful words and pictures – thank you. Perhaps for me more than words, flowers, sweets, is the development of unconditional love for all. This is an ongoing assignment that I fail many times

    Reply

  6. Butch and Pam, thank you for being examples of true love. This words, and the song 🎶, touch my heart ❤️. I’ve struggled knowing real love in my life. When I became exclusively Jesus’s bride, I found it. May your love continue to be a shining light to us all. God bless you both. ❤️💕🙏🏻🤗

    Reply

  7. That was a beautiful post! Thank you for sharing this and Happy Valentine’s Day to you both. Now I want to know about waking up after having been unconscious for a month! Much love, Liz 🌹❤️🌹

    Reply

  8. Your words are so beautiful and your enduring love for each other and the Lord is inspirational. I looked back at the suggested previous post and loved it as well. The picture at the end of the post is lovely and I see where your adorable Wyatt got his beautiful eyes…Pam.

    Reply

  9. Happy Valentine’s Day, Butch and Pam! This is such a beautiful post and message for this day and every day. God’s love is forever, and for that I’m so very grateful. Wishing you both a most wonderful day!

    Reply

  12. So thankful for that unconditional love. Butch, you have written a lovely post today and I dearly love the love song. Looking forward to that heavenly wedding. Have a blessed Valentine’s day.

    Reply

  13. Happy Valentine’s Day, Butch and Pam! Such a beautiful post and message for this day and everyday. God’s love is forever, and for that I am so very grateful. Wishing you both a wonderful day!

    Reply

  14. Happy Valentine’s Day Butch and Pam! A beautiful message with beautiful pictures! Hope you have a wonderful day and anniversary month! Clara❤️

    Reply

  16. Such a lovely post which touched my heart. Unconditional love. How wonderfully blessed we are! I know how you love music. Have you heard of the brother-sister group A Girl Named Tom? They are so amazing! Happy Valentine’s Day to you both.

    Reply

  19. Thank you for your beautiful thoughts and words on this very special day Butch! Pam your photos are gorgeous and full of Valentine love…Valentine’s Day is my son’s birthday and I am so thankful and blessed that we share a home together and that his boys are with us most of the time. I know you will have a wonderful Valentine’s Day and enjoy this month full of love! ❤️
    Jenna

    Reply

  21. What a wonderful post, so needed by me, especially today. Valentine’s day has lost its flavor for me, so thank you for reminding me, it is unconditional love.

    Reply

  22. Wonderful post,dear friends. Wonderful comments too. Yes,your blog is so precious for so many lives, including mine…Thank you for such encouragement. Happy Valentine’s Day!

    Reply

  27. A bouquet of hearts and flowers to one of the most devoted couples I have known. You, indeed, epitomize , Beshert, God-ordained and meant for one another… How ideally you complement each other… Butch’s tribute, so deeply moving. He is
    correct about the unconditional nature of God’s love…. He faced the cross and said to us….”Stay, I’ll go there for you”… In
    the difficulties of life, He repeats that phrase to guide and comfort us….So too, the unconditional love in marriage carries that
    promise of going there for each other….and 49 years of being destined to be has brought Beshert to fruition in your lives. How blessed you have been and how beautifully you bless others…..

    Reply

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