Love Letters Written in Red

“I love you, and that’s the beginning and end of everything” ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald, for Zelda

Some classic famous author quotes are better than others

This one reminds me of a few verses another favorite wrote many centuries before F. Scott breathed his first breath, let alone penned anything worth reading.

While I admire and mean no disrespect to the incredible Mr. Fitzgerald, I must mention the One whose words are written on my heart. My dad once said, “Love letters from men are better left unsaid.” And my mom’s response: “But he’s the only one who left us love letters written in red.”

And she was right.

Love and all its splendor

Whether adolescent, middle-aged, scholarly or relatively uneducated, most humans will somewhat agree that love and all its splendor is a topic that relentlessly piques our curiosity and might leave us wishing we never breached the subject lest our hearts be broken.

“You don’t Love because, you love despite; not for the virtues, but despite the faults. (usually linked to William Faulkner’s writing although exact attribution source is unknown)

Writers adore love stories (most of the time)

Throughout the ages, writers have penned epic sagas, ethereal stories, love letters sent and published across the globe, or intimate notes tucked away in dresser drawers. The common denominator is that they depict scenarios involving deep care and affection, adoration, romantic prose, or, oftentimes, gory complexities and lovelorn agony.

A few more quotes about love: I love . . .

“A loving heart is the truest wisdom” ” ~ Charles Dickens, David Copperfield

“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.” ~ Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched—they must be felt with the heart.” ~ Helen Keller

But why all the pain?

Some of us ask—all the while knowing a multitude of interpretations only leave more questions, especially when they regard a writer’s inspiration, or sacred love letters written in red.

Sure, many authors (like Shakespeare) wrote and still write about lovers parting in sorrow or death. Although these classic storylines might move us to tears, today is Valentine’s Day and I want to remember the only  Lover of our souls —Jesus, who loved us so much he gave his life so we could live. The Bible says Jesus was with God from the beginning. He is God’s flesh (…The Word became flesh), and: The Word of God; John1:1, 1:14 and, The Author and Perfector of our Faith; Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us. ~ 1 John 4:12

Want to take in all the details about what the God above ALL other gods says love is? Here’s the entire chapter. Read 1 Corinthians 13 NIV

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” ~ Mother Teresa

The Love chapter simplified . . .

Here’s what the Apostle Paul wrote about love to the church of Corinth and explains how God’s Holy Spirit guides and helps us seek and find: God’s way to love.

The greatest gift

No matter how eloquently one speaks or writes, we should remember talk is cheap. In truth I can humbly say heavenly gifts may come and go, and a faith that once moved so many mountains might now be held captive by skepticism, judgement, and weariness. Still, we should not be shaken, dismayed—or deceived. While on this rollercoaster ride, I’m constantly reminded how everything I may have gained is worthless if I don’t desperately hang on to the greatest gift of all. Can you guess what 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NIV says that gift is?

Love.

Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. Love is the beauty of the soul. ~ Saint Augustine of Hippo, Theologian

The Author above all others

God, the creator of all that ever was, is, or ever will be inspired human writers with his word. He (and his Holy Spirit) was the source. Read 2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV). All Scripture is God-breathed . . .

The Author of love

Promise after promise, warning after warning. Our heavenly Father breathed out this amazing love letter for us. And Jesus left us instructions, meditations, calls to action, and so much more. This tremendous compilation of poetry, stories, prophecy, and other genres we call the bible is not just a telling—it shows. Love’s greatest story unfolded on a ugly hillside long ago. Where his I love you was written in red.

On our darkest day or in our deepest sorrows. He wants us to know he is with us; feels our joy, struggles—and pain.  

A God who loves us even when we think we’re unlovable

While earthly love is wonderful, God’s love has a way of transforming us. It’s nature’s way of de-aging us (someone needs to tell my mirror that). It lessens our burdens and lightens our load. If love (His Holy Spirit) lives deep within us, our actions naturally become selfless, truthful, noble, and kind. Yep. It’s completely opposite of self-centered, deceitful, dishonorable or biased, and inconsiderate or cruel.

We might all fall short at times, but the great thing is we can seek our Heavenly Father’s help in these matters and be guided along the way. He is The One and Only God who loves us even when we think—or the world says—we’re unlovable.

His love is so much more than magical. It’s written on my heart . . . and if we believe in such miracles, it could last forever.

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. ~ ~ Psalm 25:4-5 NIV

His love, written in red

God’s I love you was the real beginning and the end. See the famous author comparison thingy I mentioned earlier? This is how much God loved us and the fallen world we live in . . .

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ~ .  ~ John 3:16 ESV

Still wondering who my favorite author is? His name is Jesus. His words will never pass away. Without Him, I am nothing.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. ~ Mark 13:31

Dear Friends,

Have you ever wondered why or how God inspired the entire work of the Bible? Or, if his love really can move mountains, why doesn’t he always move them? Or how, often-times, (and especially when we let worldly worries, trends, influencers, or media control our emotions), His way of loving us completely differs from our way of loving others?

This Valentine’s Day and always, let’s remember the only one who first loved us. The Author, who left us detailed love letters written in red so we might live abundantly. I believe His is a love worth sharing.

Please join the conversation. I’d love to hear your thoughts here in the Inspire a Fire comments section below. Read all my IAF stories or any highlighted text links in this post. See you on Insta or FB, or check out my Dreamdove’s Flights of Fancy blog.

Wishing you tons of love on your journey,

~ JC 

Special thanks to PIXABAY for use of all royalty free images. Feature: Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay geralt , #1 Image by Aritha from Pixabay FotoRieth, #2 Image by Amore Seymour from Pixabay, #3 Image by Mystic Art Design from Pixabay.