This past week we celebrated Valentine's Day. I like to use that day to do a kind of blessing inventory. I have found it a great opportunity to thank God for all of those blessing that have come our way in the people that God has given us. 

 I remember last year on Valentine's Day I visited an elderly couple at a nursing home. They had been married for almost 70 years.  When I arrived, they were working their way through a huge box of fancy chocolates that one of their grand daughters had brought them to celebrate the day. Both of them loved chocolate and they weren't letting my visit get in the way of their finding their favorite piece of candy!

  During the course of our visit, I asked them what they thought was the secret of their happy marriage. He said, "I am always learning from Clare. She is so nice and caring and sensitive to people. She has taught me to like being with new people and learning about them. She has always had such a thoughtful, caring approach to people. It's like she's always saying "Hey Frank, you dummy, this is the way you take care of people. I've learned how to love from just watching her care. We have such a great time just talking with each other too. It's made me one happy man."

  When I asked Clare the same question, she simply said, "I have always looked forward to sitting and talking with Paul. He listens to me like nobody ever has. I look forward to telling him everything. I've never had any secrets from him. He has always been my best friend, my confidant, and his point of view, and his opinions are really important to me. Even though we often disagreed, that never really separated us. It just made me think a little deeper. As I go through my day, I often find myself saying "I've got to tell Paul about that!'  I guess our marriage and our love has been one really long, beautiful conversation and I feel really blessed by it.

  As you think about those you love what do you think is the secret of your relationship? What makes their love such a blessing to you? Have you taken the time to thank God for the gift of those you love?