Valentine's Day

I have never had an opinion of Valentine's Day. Growing up it was an excuse to eat as much candy as you wanted. It also involved picking out the coolest valentines day cards for the kids in your class and then later hoarding the candy in your room so you could hide it from your siblings....and maybe your mom. 

As I have gotten older it has changed. It is still a day of love but as I got into college it was a day my single friends seemed to desperately wish they were in a relationship. Beneath the "lets get all dressed up and go bowling then eat ice cream til 2 am" was a bitterness of being single during this day. 

I have never been in a relationship over Valentine's Day. So you could say I have never really had "a Valentine" before. I am ok with that because I have found other ways to pour love out. I think deep down I am secretly a romantic. Although in a candlelight dinner surrounded by roses while being read poetry type setting, I would not know how to react and most likely stutter (and blush) a lot! I have never been that type of person. I have had some incredible Valentine's days without having a boyfriend. 

4 yrs ago: I was at FLI and spent the morning at my internship with FCA. I love those kids!! I remember knowing that the guys were doing something for the girls but no one would tell me what. That morning my neighbors had gotten up early to make us all breakfast and they got up extra early to make sure they got me before I left for internship...unfortunately they arrived after I left with a plate of hot food and woke my roommates up at about 6:00 am. Oops. That night they served a fancy dinner to all the girls and danced with each one. I missed that too due to internship. I was bummed at first but the guys saved me dessert as well as a rose. I felt loved :) 

3 yrs ago: the FCA guys at my university got together and we made cookies and ate chocolate in fellowship. My friend from FLI who went to my school got me something and my mom sent me balloons. That was a fun day! 

1 yr ago: the guys at Axis cooked a 4 course meal for the ladies and served us as we sat around a table covered in flowers and chocolate. It was so much fun! We all had dresses and the guys were dressed up as well. We all laughed and talked as those Godly men blessed us with an amazing dinner! My friend Sam even remembered I wasn't eating fried food that month and made me a special dinner. :) Those guys are incredible!! 

Today: I sit in a park on a blanket in Colorado Springs. I am surrounded by books and snacks and settle in under the sunshine. There are so many people outside enjoying the 60 degree weather we are having in February. I am by myself today. Most of my friends are in the mountains skiing or traveling with Axis. I am alone today but I am not lonely. As much as I want to see some friends today has been a day spent with God. It has been something I have needed and it has been very good. Over the past 2 years God has been de-bunking a lot of strange ideas I held close. And today, Valentine's Day has been added to that list. 

I realize I have always seen Valentine's Day as a couples holiday. I never even knew I did that. As I watch all of these families I know it is more than that. Yes, people complain about how it is a Hallmark holiday made in order to sell more cards, candy and stuffed animals. I sit and watch the couples walk around the park hand in hand and, yes, one day I would like to have someone to do that with. But that is not what Valentine's Day means to me anymore. 

Valentine's Day to me means being surrounded by people who love and care about you. It means sharing in God's design for us to be in community with each other. It means spreading love to others because God loved us first. It means taking time to thank God for the people He has placed in our lives and making sure they know you love them. It also is a chance to sit in His love for us. 

Along with all the couples walking around there is a father and daughter that passed by me. She is learning how to ride a bike without training wheels. She is doing a great job and her dad is running along side of her with a smile on his face and encouraging her. There are no stern words when she messes up. He tells her to get back on the bike and keep pedaling. As they start to go up a hill he explains what to do and never leaves her side. There is a reason scripture describes us as children of God and why He is depicted as a loving Father. As I sit here I see that image come to life. I see myself as the little girl and God as the father. In this season of life I am learning to ride a bike with no training wheels. I am wobbly and keep falling over. I don't know how to navigate this new change and keep veering off the trail. But God is right there beside me. Sometimes He is able to catch me before I fall and other time I roll down the hill as He runs after me and scoops me up in His arms. When a steep hill looms before me, He stands next to me and whispers encouraging words in my ears and I believe I can do it because He believes in me. I fail and mess up but He doesn't yell. He reaches out His hand and helps me up to try again. He does this because He loves me. He wants me to succeed and one day I will be riding that bike with two wheels like I have done it my whole life. 

God shows us that love and in turn we are called to love. How are we taking that love and spreading it in all aspects of our lives? Who is God putting on your heart to love better? 

I hope your day was spent surrounded by those you love. I hope you know how loved you are.

Happy Valentine's Day!