February 14th- Love Matters

As a child, Valentine’s Day was something I looked forward to. At school, we would decorate an old show box that would serve as mail boxes, and those would become the portals by which every classmate would drop colorful cards and candy for each other. No one was singled out; not one was overlooked. (Thanks to the rosters our teachers would send home with us)

Once you get out of elementary school, everything changes. Valentines is rife with expectation and heartbreak. You hope and pray a certain someone gives you a special card or gift, or EVEN asks you on a date. Will you be mine? Isn’t that the phrase we look for on those candy hearts; it is what our heart and soul longs to hear.

 Special.

It is what every human longs to feel- that we have a unique place in the hearts of our loved ones. That we cannot be replaced. That we matter.

I personally think that’s why Valentine’s Day stings so much for singles. Why it always stung so much for me.

 

Year after year I watched my friends, classmates, mothers, roommates and even grandmothers receive attention and beautiful gifts on Valentine’s Day.

On a day that men honor the women in their lives just for being who they are; vise versus. As I sat in class today I worked to keep my face blank and pleasant as the conversation flew back and forth.

“My boyfriend is taking me to..”

“My girlfriend said…”

“My Fiancé and I are…”

Never mind what is was- it was something! A plan! Every man and woman, it seemed to my very single soul had a plans that night, even if the plan was simply to not have plans.

Valentine’s Day is a day of exaltation; a day in which men hold up their wives or girlfriends as beloved. Giving them tokens and symbols of not only affection, but as validation of their very worth like in the passage in Proverbs, “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all” (Proverbs 31:29)

OUCHIE!

I whole-heartily believed that I was not special… Until Christ.

On the day I said YES!

To Jesus Of course. I said YES to an eternity of a valentine an eternity of love that would never burn out. God came into my life in a blazing fire of love and intimacy. In that very moment I became what every woman/ man longed to be: beloved! 

I became special. And I did not need to receive roses or chocolate or the admiration and envy of other women. I knew it because of the whisper deep in my heart: I love you. You are special to me.

I did not hear the actual words. But I have heard him speak to me any times through whisper, a circumstance, a friend. Through a shooting star in the sky.

And after years of walking with God, years of spending Valentines without that special person. Well, all I can say is that I could not feel more special. More loved.

There are things he has done for me- just for me- because he love. Moments and words and gestures that were not for correction and not for growth, but were for one reason only: Love!

This year is going to be different. The Lord has set in my life strong God fearing women whom are also single. Sitting down drinking wine, grilling and basking in the love of friendship. It is going to be a wonderful time and I CAN NOT WAIT TO CELEBRATE VALENTINES DAY! (wow, never thought I would say that). 

Happy Happy Love day- Single or Not

This is my battle-

-Elena Barrientes