When my husband and I were dating, I waited in breathless anticipation for what he would bring me on Valentine’s Day, the Holiest of High Holy Days for romantics. He’s not the most effusive guy around, but I knew I could expect a dozen roses, or something comparable. That was then…
A few Valentine’s Days of married life later, he presented me with a plastic bag tied around some thorny twigs and said, “I brought you roses for Valentine’s Day!”
Ah. Apparently, after you get married, you have to grow your own roses.
Don’t come down too hard on the guy. He was being vigilant about our spending, and he did make a date with me to plant the twig… I mean, rose bush. This was his way of showing love for me. He was looking out for our finances (his way of protecting me), he came up with a unique gift (his way of keeping me guessing), and he made a date with me (his way of saying that he likes to spend time with me). This was the Valentine’s Day that I learned that real love doesn’t come from Hallmark.
Real love doesn’t wait in breathless anticipation for what it will get, but what it will give. Real love sweats and digs in the dirt to make a space for roses that will bloom every year. Real love happens every day of the year, not just on February 14th. And real love will sacrifice everything with selfless abandon for another.
I am receiving a huge valentine this year – and receiving is different than getting. God has offered this down-in-the-dirt sacrificial love to me over and over, but I have only half-heartedly received it, accepted it, claimed it for my own. I am only now daring to peek inside the envelope, the one I thought was addressed to someone else, the one marked “Beloved.”
We are all looking for this kind of love, though we are reluctant to admit it. Trouble is, we look in the wrong places, and expect other people to fill the God-sized hole in our hearts. I have been looking for roses and chocolates. All the while, He’s been sending valentines by the millions, red hearts falling from heaven like snow.
Hey, here’s one with your name on it!
Same name as mine –
Beloved.
Wow. This is so sweet…and yes, to be remained that I am the beloved…on Valentine and the days in-between. Your post blessed my heart.
Gladwell
I haven’t been a fan of V-Day since I’ve been on my own. After all, the Hallmark moments bombard us all for weeks before ‘the day’. What’s a relationship-less person to do, except hide, avoid the malls and leave the room when the TV commercials turn to ‘forever’ gifts?
However, your blog puts a different, happier spin on the day, because with God, we get to experience the love and adoration all year – no, all life long.
Thanks, Wendi. 🙂
Wendi,
You never cease to amaze me! THIS is what I want to convey to the women who come to MOMS…HE is the LOVER of our souls…the ONE who can meet our deepest need…the ONE we are all deep down desiring.That is where the healing comes and the rest of life starts to make sense. YES, I will receive that love…I know you have too, PRAISE God!
Happy Valentine’s Day, dear Beloved one.
Lori
Hard to believe that we sometimes give his generous gift of undying love back.
Thank you for lifting your readers out of the Hallmark holiday and into the realm of reality where God is lavishing His love on us everyday. Thank you for reminding us that true love (husband /wife or God/us) is more than token sentimentality.
Thank you for sharing your oh-so-right-on perspective! We accept THE Valentine with open hearts and love. Keep writing you blogs. We like reading them