September 15, 2007

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    Love. It’s such a loaded word. We use it in an assortment of ways. If a child was asked, what do you love? I bet you anything they would respond with statements like, I love ice cream, I love my dog, I love my mom and dad, and I love my teacher.

    When thinking of this mushy concept petite valentine hearts, coated in pastel sugar, may pass through our minds or even those tiny grocery store valentine cards—you know, the ones we stuffed in the decorated shoeboxes in elementary school. The night before the big valentine hand-out in the classroom, we would carefully read and analyze each card. The girls got the more sappy love messages such as, “I like you Valentine,” where as the boys, would get something generic like “You are Terrific, Valentine.” We did this just to make sure they didn’t actually think we liked them. However, there was always this one boy that we wanted to give a sappy message to. He was the reason we volunteered to play basketball in gym class, even though we hated being sweaty. He was the reason we wanted to dress up and look nice in the morning before school. He was the reason we hung out with his friends, even though they were gross and annoying, because we just wanted to be near him. Yes, we made sure that he received the gushiest of all the Valentine cards. Maybe one which stated, “I only have eyes for you.” And, I bet you made sure your hand writing was perfect on this Valentine card. You practiced writing your name over and over again to ensure he received the perfect signature—the best you could possibly write.

    Though we have been removed from elementary for quite sometime now, it is still true in our love relationships, it doesn’t matter if it’s our husband, boyfriend, or crush; we still have these giddy feelings every time we are around them or think of them. I can remember receiving my first actual “love letter” in junior high from a boy. It was written on wide-ruled notebook paper with my name in black ink. I read that letter over and over again until the edges of the paper were crinkled and the original fold lines could not be distinguished. I cherished the words in that note. In fact, I still have it in a keepsake box in my closet. Why, did I value this note so much? It was because I valued the person who had written it. I desired to know him…so I studied his words. I can remember they were flattering words from a junior high boy. Something along the lines of you are pretty, I enjoy spending time with you, you make me laugh, and I like to talk to you. These words melted my heart. I wanted to draw closer to the person that was feeding me these beautiful compliments. I was treasured in his eyes, deemed as important. This truly felt good.

    Did you know God wants to court his daughters? He has written us countless love letters. Yes, it is true. He wants to be that person that we fawn over, that we confide in, that we rejoice with, and the one in whom we find security and the meaning of life. He wants to date us. Not in a literal sense but in a spiritual way. Magazines provide this culture with quizzes such as 10 ways to know if he is in to you and the top five signs to tell if your crush really likes you. Well, God is enthralled by you. We don’t have to guess or take any tests to figure this out. He loves you with an everlasting love. Though we may not see the “signs” he is giving us. He displays these mannerisms constantly. All we must do is devote ourselves to him like we would to our husbands in a physical love relationship. It is so easy to think constantly about our crush and desire to gaze into his eyes or to be in his presence. However, we must hold off on feeling this way for only a crush, which is fleeting. God is the bridegroom, and he has promised to be forever present in our lives.

    May we truly live our lives in sheer adoration for the Lord! So that others may look into our eyes and say—she’s in love.

    Psalm 45:11: The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.