1 John 3:16 (NIV)
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

She’s only six but sometimes my Anne can be the wisest teacher. Sometimes I learn great lessons even when she hasn’t spoken a word. It happened again this morning in the car pool – just a look taught me a great lesson about love.

John had just piled into the car with two Valentine gifts; one for the teacher and one for the lunch lady. It’s two weeks until Valentine’s Day, I thought, this mom is really on the ball. He was beaming with anticipation and Anne, confused about the day, blurted out, “My stickers! We have to go back home and get my stickers to give to everyone in my class.” I’ve heard that tone before and knew I had only moments to relieve her of her anxiety before the tears began. As I glanced in the rear-view mirror I could see the pain in her eyes. For just a moment she thought she’d missed the day and her chance to express her affection for her friends. I quickly reminded her that the Valentine’s exchange wasn’t for another two weeks.

I knew exactly why she had that look. She has been talking about her plan to give stickers to her classmates on Valentine’s Day for several weeks now. She finds great joy in giving gifts to others; it’s her favorite way to show love. Often in conversation she readily connects her love for giving to Jesus’ love for us; Jesus who died for her. Even at six she recognizes the connection that Jesus gave so much to us so we should be giving with others. We love because He first loved us. I want to be more like that.

1 John 3:18 (NIV)
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.