Christmas Love Story by Linda Raha

The greatest love story ever written is the one God has written upon our hearts; it is the Christmas story, where God grants us eternal life through the Baby Jesus in the manger, His only son.

When I was twelve years old in December of 1970, the movie, “Love Story”, was released, starring Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal. I can remember the words of the song, “Where do I begin”, by heart. The lines of the song still echo in my mind; “How long does it last, can love be measured by the hours in a day…”

It is a beautiful song, and if you ponder the lyrics, the song asks a crucial question. How long does love last?

At Christmastime, we remember our beloveds who are no longer with us; we find peace in knowing these dear ones are now in heaven. The love has not changed. It remains an eternal flame.

So, in answer to the question, “How long does it last, can love be measured by the hours in a day?”, the answer is a resounding, no. Love, true love, is without end.

We are God’s very own children. He loves us with an everlasting love. He formed our bodies and our spirits. He created us for love from the very beginning.

In Corinthians 13:12, we read, “And we see but a poor reflection, as in a mirror; then, we shall see face to face. Now, I know in part; then, I shall know fully even as I am fully known.”

How wonderful is that? To God we are fully known and fully loved just as we are. Just as we are these few days before Christmas with our to-do lists in hand, visions of ‘sugar plums dancing in our heads’; “Twas the Night Before Christmas” is a lovely poem, by Clement Clarke Moore, and it stirs in us all kinds of Christmas wonder. At Christmas, we are all children once again; the important part to remember is that we are God’s children.

All we need to know about life and love are found in the Bible. We never have to question the ending: there simply is no end when our hearts belong to God. All we have to do is follow His example. John 4:19: “We love because He first loved us.”

No matter the season, but especially at Christmas, we remember that which we were created for…love. Love is the essence of our being, love is the reason we even exist at all.

There are many beautiful stories and many wonderful poems and songs. But, the most beautiful story ever told is the Christmas Story, written upon our hearts. John 3:!6: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”