Happy Valentine's Day to me :)

So The Brother had told me about this band last year that I HAD to go listen to, and seeing as he doesn't often rave about local bands, I was intrigued. Then we found out that they were having a select pre-CD launch gig on 14 February, and he'd get arrange for five tickets, so that I could invite someone, and that he could invite two. Who else to invite than Princess Sarah? We decided to all meet up at church and head to the concert all together.

There'd been Miscommunications. But this only became clear on the evening. Princess Sarah arrived at church with her Lovely Joe who she thought she'd mentioned would be down here this weekend. I'd misunderstood completely, and thought he wasn't coming down at all. Oh dear. Scanning through the options, I decided to tell her to take my ticket for him, 'cause it would be easier for me to hang around church afterwards with all the other friends (whereas poor Joe would be kinda homeless as he'd driven through with Sarah), and it'd be lovely for them to be able to spend time together. [I'm sounding rather blase about me having to give my ticket away, but I wasn't as unaffected as I sound. I was quite disappointed 'cause I'd been really looking forward to finally spending time with Princess, and was quite curious about the band.]

Anyway. At least I'd come to a solution. I go inside, and head to the back of the church where The Brother is sorting out power point slides. Explaining that he's to give the extra ticket to Joe, I did not expect what he said next. "No, you go. Take my ticket."

My heart is undone by human kindness, and it broke a little (in the best way) at my brother's generosity. He'd really been amped to see them play, and he was the driving force behind us going to see them. Now, here he was, giving his ticket away to me. "Are you sure?" I asked. "Yeah, no sure. You go watch them, I've seen them before."

Wow.

And the most wonderful thing is, as I was singing with the congregation during the service, I realized again that my brother isn't just generous 'cause he was born like that. He has become like that because of his love for and obedience to Christ. Having said that, he makes being generous seem really easy in a way that is so encouraging.

Happy Valentine's to me. My brother is the coolest guy I know.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down:
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful Cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful Cross
All who gather here by grace draw near
And bless Your name

Were the whole realm of Nature mine,
That were an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all!


PS I include the above, because that was the last song of the evening.
PPS When we finally got there and set up blankets and pillows on the venue floor (lovely, hey:) ), another friend mentioned that his one friend wasn't coming through anymore, and he'd just told my Brother to come get that ticket. So he got to come after all :) God is generous like that too.