“I’m skipping Valentine’s Day this year!”
When February 14 comes near, I hear and see the sting of broken hearts disenchanted with the whole “Will you be my valentine?” charm or its absence.
As a young and vulnerable heart, Valentine’s Day without a boyfriend seemed ghastly to me. The Valentine’s Day blues at its peak. A girl in love with love.
Does Valentine’s Day Define Us?
Why do we think being someone’s valentine defines us? At least thinking it’s the tell-tale sign of who we are in regards to having and owning love. Like the cliche’, “I’m lucky in love.”
For the security of celebrating the day-of-love holiday, I often see girls and women date someone other than their “first pick” until after the holiday. Guys do this, too. Settle. To fill the spot for grandiose images of candlelight, romance, flowers, and chocolate.
Yet, I’ve always wanted close relationships with people who really get me. To know my heart as much as a person can know another human heart. Do they know what makes me smile, moves me to tears, causes me to laugh out loud, brings me to sadness, or throws me into a tizzy?
To understand me and love me. For. Me. As. Me.
3 Valentines I Always Wanted to be:
- The Daughter Valentine. To be my father’s little girl, then his big girl. And his sweetheart as a child and woman dear to his heart. Why? He was absent from my life for several years when I was a young child.
- The Friend Valentine. The sweetheart next door. Known as the small town girl who’s sweet, kind, and loving. Young school days of passing out valentines to all my classmates. But transferring into those yearbook signing days of “To a sweet girl.”
- The Girlfriend Valentine. Picked as the sweetheart of someone in school. Especially middle school and beyond. “Will you be my valentine? Will you be mine?” So, one day in college, a boy asked me to be his valentine forever. Nearly thirty-five years later, I’m still my husband’s sweetheart.
Do you have the Valentine’s Day blues? Are you valentine-less this year? Boyfriend-less, girlfriend-less, marriage-less, or in any relationship that is love-less? Perhaps you are in a marriage with so much “less” than before—sweethearts that drifted apart.
Don’t Totally Skip Out on Valentine’s Day
Even on non-valentine days, I’ve felt loveless. The pit of my heart carried a nagging sense of deep, dark emptiness. This, my friends, is a sad condition on any day. Any.
Valentine’s Day, the day of love, can be a jubilant celebration regardless of whether you’ve secured a valentine date, dance, dinner, or the love of your life. No need to totally skip out on the holiday.
Cupid loaded with his bow and arrows is not necessary.
When it comes to true love, Cupid’s always missed the bullseye. His make-believe persona and pretentious match-making are stray arrows that never hit dead center the target of real love.
[bctt tweet=”When it comes to true love, Cupid’s always missed the bullseye. #ValentinesDay #Love @FridayKaren” username=”PatHolbrook”]
But my heart’s been pierced with an arrow of enduring love that Cupid knows nothing about. The piercing love of someone who really “gets me.” He understands me and loves me. For. Me. As. Me.
One who asked me to be His. And He promised to hold me dear to His heart forever.
[bctt tweet=”There’s One who asked me to be His. And He promised to hold me dear to His heart forever. #ValentinesDay #Love @FridayKaren” username=”PatHolbrook”]
He pursued me with a proposal, “will you be mine?” Accepting His invitation, I instantly became His daughter, friend, and sweet to His heart. Completely loved and never loveless again. Ever.
The valentine I’d always wanted to be. God’s. It beats the socks off the Valentine’s Day blues, transferring real love into my other relationships.
When God drew back His bow, He hit dead center the target of real love. Jesus’ heart was pierced for me. And you. On the cross. A day of love. The greatest Valentine’s Day and love story ever told. Ever.
[bctt tweet=”A grand valentine invitation. Jesus is calling, “Will you be mine?” #ValentinesDay #Love @FridayKaren” username=”PatHolbrook”]
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” John 15:13 ESV.
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[bctt tweet=”Linkup is open! When God drew back His bow, He hit dead center the target of real #Love … Jesus’ heart was pierced for me and for you. Join us as my friend @FridayKaren helps us learn more about the greatest #ValentinesDay ” username=”PatHolbrook”]
I love this, Karen. God’s love transformed my life and my other relationships.
Thanks, Barbara. When God’s true love pierces our own heart, it does transfer real love into our other relationships!
Love is in the air, carried by the sweet, sweet name of Jesus. Through the Holy Spirit’s power, He can fill our hearts with such a mighty love!! Letting this precious post motivate and encourage my heart in meditating on His love for me. And it also motivates me to pour out His love as He so faithfully pour in! Thank you, Karen!
I like that April, “Love is in the air, carried by the sweet, sweet name of Jesus.” So true. Calvary’s cross, the greatest Valentine’s Day ever!
Yes! Our happiest Valentine is the love of God, and His Word comes to us with Good News of His ultimate expression of love.
Michele, not only is the bloodshed of Jesus the greatest Valentine’s Day but the greatest love story every told.
Happy Valentine’s Day! So thankful He calls us His own!! What a lovely post to remind me of this, thanks Karen!
Happy Valentine’s Day, Bethany! Calvary…the greatest love story ever told.
Lately I’ve seen how the gospels and the book of Acts are the love story of Jesus. Even a romance, so to speak! Yes, that is real love!
I like how you make note of that, Lynn. Yes, a love story with Jesus as the lover of our soul!
This is soooo… good Karen! You share both the wonder of Valentines day and the sadness that threatens many hearts. I’m scheduling this one to share on Valentines Day for sure. Thank you!
Thanks so much, Joy. And appreciate you sharing it on Friday. With Jesus there’s no need for the Valentine’s Day blues. 🙂
I love the 3 different kinds of valentines you describe. No reason singles should miss out on this holiday!
Yes, those were my valentine wishes growing up. And there is no reason for singles to miss out. God’s love is so high, and wide, and deep, and long.
Karen, thank you for connecting Valentine’s with Jesus’ love for us. As we look at the crucifixion in our Bible study this week, this a great reminder of His love for us.
Hey Debbie, yes, the crucifixion drives home the point well. There’s no love like God’s love to send His only Son for us. Oh, what a Savior!
Definitely love your last line – He proved His great love for us by laying down His life.
Amen, Jerralea! “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” John 15:13 ESV.
Amen! “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” John 15:13 ESV.