One evening before Broadway musical star Mary Martin was to go on stage in South Pacific, a note was handed to her. It was from Oscar Hammerstein, the lyricist of the musical she was about to perform. It said: ‘Dear Mary, a bell’s not a bell till you ring it. A song’s not a song until you sing it. Love in your heart is not put there to stay. Love isn’t love till you give it away.’ After her performance, people rushed backstage, exclaiming, ‘We have never heard anything like that performance! You sang with more power than you’ve ever sung!’ Mary read them the note and added, ‘Tonight, I gave my love away.’ The poorest person in the world has something to give others if he or she has love in their heart. Love’s gifts take many forms – a smile, a hug, a gift, a note of thanks, a bit of help, and just being there in tough times. Love is the one gift that always fits, is always appropriate, and always in season. Jesus said, ‘By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another’ (John 13:35 NKJV). Paul wrote, ‘May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all’ (1 Thessalonians 3:12 NKJV). James writes, ‘Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.’ So today, in some way, give your love away.
What now?
Write some short, encouraging notes and leave them on the seats in your church for people to find.