February Partner Letter 2017

Dear Partner,

‘For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He gave up His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.’ (Jn. 3:16)

Expressing the love of God to the world is the meaning of the cross of Jesus Christ.  It is the greatest love story ever told.  I recently read a story that tells a wonderful truth of what happens when love is expressed.

His name was Jack Kublesky, who later became known as the comedian, Jack Benny.  When he was a young man, he worked in the same studio as a young lady he wanted to date. He thought she was beautiful, but he was too shy and embarrassed to ask her out.  So he started sending a single red rose to her desk, everyday, with no note attached.  One day, she asked the deliveryman who was sending her the roses. He said it was a guy named Jack who worked in the same studio. Finally, they began talking, and Jack asked her out. She thought that after they started dating the roses would stop. But they didn’t. They kept coming…a single rose every day.

Their relationship flourished; they became engaged and she thought the roses would stop. But they didn’t. Then they married. And every day, a single rose would show up for Mrs. Benny.  Decades passed, and Jack Benny eventually died. The day after his funeral, a single rose was delivered to Mrs. Benny.  After several days and several more roses, Mrs. Benny went to the florist and said, “I don’t know if you realize this or not, but Mr. Benny passed away. I know it is kind of you, but you don’t need to do this any longer.” The florist responded, “Mrs. Benny, you don’t understand. Jack made provisions years ago to provide you a single red rose every day you are alive.”

Wow!  Every day we live, we are here to be a witness to others of God’s great love to them.  God wants them to know they are loved and they will always be loved by Jesus.  We are His hands and His voice.  Let us work while it is day and tell the Good News of Jesus Christ – ‘For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.’ (2 Cor.5:19)
Because He first loved us,
Cindy, Lois and Ray