On This Hallmark Holiday

Well, another year bites the dust! Yet another Single Valentines Day. There are so many people that I know who are bitter about being single, who so badly want to find their valentine that will forever complete them. (*cough* so not me *cough*)

I know that I do have a desire one of these days to settle down with my valentine, but this year is clearly not one of those years. I will have to watch another holiday of love pass by. Many Valentines in the past, I have been bitter and I would cringe at any sight of Valentines Day. (Living on campus at CBU...it was EVERYWHERE.) I would see young couples exchange flowers, chocolates, cards, etc to one another. I would just try to stay in my apartment during this dreadful, horrible holiday.

But as the years continued on at CBU, Valentines Day became a day of engagements. Many of my friends, acquaintances began to exchange engagement rings instead of the typical chocolates. The moment when that began happening, I literally became the Scrooge of Valentines Day. I mean, what happened to those days in Elementary School where we made our own little baskets, and the first thing when we walked into class we handed out our cards and chocolates to the entire class. Everyone was included, and everyone felt special. Then, out of nowhere, it shifted from everyone, to just that one guy that you like. Ugh.

Most recently instead of focusing on my failure of catching a Valentine, I began to focus on the friendships and loved ones that I have in my life. This year, I feel like I have such a slew of them! There have been so many people here in Cameroon, and many back in the States that are continually praying for me, and supporting me. I really just feel beyond blessed this year to have all of you as my Valentines!

I think one of my main Valentines this year, and who is always every year, my Lord Savior Jesus Christ. I think so many times we tend to focus on the love that we have here on earth for Valentines Day. Up in Heaven right now, there is a God who loves us despite what we look like, what we do, and what we say. Fact, I do not have a boy Valentine this year, but the bigger fact is, I have a God who continually will always be there for me. No matter what circumstance I find myself, no matter what country I live in, and no matter how fat or how skinny I may be, God will always, I repeat ALWAYS love me.

This morning I was working on Lesson 45, and it was about how Peter denies Jesus. It really is, in my opinion one of the saddest moments in the Bible (besides the death of Jesus). Here we see Peter, a very devoted disciple for Christ. One second there he is taking part of the bread and wine for Passover, claiming his love for Christ, and then some time later, we see him claiming to never know Jesus. The man who he literally gave everything up for, he denied. Peter picked up his cross and followed Jesus, and here he is, denying ever knowing him. I cannot imagine the feeling of guilt, sorrow, and self disappointment that Peter felt after hearing that rooster crow. I cannot imagine the tears that streamed down his face as he ran out of the courtyard and sobbed bitterly. To forever be known in Heaven as the guy who denied Jesus, man that has got to be tough.

But instead of pointing the figure at Peter, we should look at ourselves. I know personally that there have been times that I almost to a certain point denied Christ. There were moments in LA when I should have stood up to those who were insulting Christ, there have been moments when I have not really displayed to others that I am a follower of Jesus. These moments I kept my mouth shut, and just denied my faith. Here I am thinking, man, poor Peter, he must have felt terrible, I could not even imagine. When I have done the same.

I have done the same, and here Jesus still loves me. I have asked him for forgiveness, and he has forgiven me. I have let him down, I have denied him, and yet, he has this never ending love for me. Jesus Christ is and forever will be my Valentine. I can look out the window where I am currently working and I can see the “gifts” that he has given me on this day. I see rolling green hills, I see colorful flowers blooming everywhere, I see horses, cats, and dogs, all created for enjoyment! The Lord has given us so many gifts here on earth, and so many times we never really give thanks for them.

Thank you Lord for providing the small and big things in my life. I thank you Lord for creating me, I thank you Lord for loving me always, I thank you Lord for being the best Valentine I could ever ask for!

So right now, I am looking at everyone’s facebook pictures of the things they got from their loved ones and I say, good for them! Good for them, because the Lord provided them with people who love them. I thank the Lord as well for all of those who love me. I thank the Lord that he has placed people in my life who are amazing.

I may not get an overabundant amount of cards, chocolates, and engagement rings on Valentines Day, but I sure do feel the love all around me.

So from me to you, I wish you nothing but a wonderful Valentines Day. Go hug someone today, go make dinner for someone, go do something out of your way for someone else...because you never know...they may be crying inside feeling unloved and alone. We need to look out for one another, show love. Jesus showed EVERYONE love. We are to do the same.

Happy Valentines Day!

-Sarah