That Crazy Little Thing Called Love

Valentine's Day is here!

That delightful time of year has arrived when love, flowers, and chocolate fills the air. When you notice, with sweet envy, the couples walking hand in hand, the smiles on their faces, the love in their eyes.

For me, Valentine's Day brings to mind people like Romeo and Juliet, Lizzie Bennet and Mr. Darcy, my mom and dad. *grin* I hum songs like "L-O-V-E" and "That's Amore". I smile at movies such as "The Shop around the Corner", "Ever After" or "The Princess Bride". I envision gauzy pink dresses, shiny dress shoes, black tuxedos, and red roses. I can picture the smiles, the joy, and, of course, the love that seems to hang in the air.

It's on days like this that I wish I had a lacy hammock underneath a giant tree, a book in my hands , and a cool breeze rippling about me, as the hammock rocks gently to the rhythm of the wind. Unfortunately for me, it is rather chilly outside, the trees are bare of their leaves, and that hammock is still in the Soft Surroundings catalog. So much for a romantic afternoon. *grin*

I cannot say that I do the same thing every year, as I have not. One year I was working in our Tea Room, another I found myself shopping with Tiff and eating free ice cream at Culver's. Another year I found myself doing absolutely nothing but the everyday things. This year, however, I'm going to celebrate a bit with three dear friends and my darling family. Us girls will watch a “chick flick” and laugh...just have a lovely time. We're going to prepare a romantic dinner for my parents and help them celebrate this day of love by giving them time with one another, because it's good to keep in mind that true love is about giving to others. It should be a lovely day.

Many of you may have romantic aspirations that you hope to someday attain. You envy those Jane Austen heroines and wonder where your Mr. Knightly is. When he does come, you are sure that he will sweep you off your feet. He'll give you flowers and serenade you with love songs. He'll cherish you. Isn't that nearly every girls dream?

Two important things that I remind myself of on this day (especially) are 1.) I am not "incomplete" or "single" (I have my family, my church family, and most importantly, my Lord.) and 2.) I am not going to be "depressed" on Valentine's Day because God has not yet put that “special someone” in my life. I am content with where He has me.

What am I going to do on Valentine's Day? I am going to rejoice in the love of Christ, my Savior! Some of you may frown and say that I know nothing about it, since I am just eighteen and haven't spent my mid to late twenties wondering if that right man will ever come along. And I admit, y'all are right, I have not experienced those feelings, and as such, unfortunately, I am unable to tell you anything save this : God gives us the grace to be content with where He has us, now and in the future.

"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:" (Philippians 4:11, NKJV)

He is my True Love. And He is yours. He will always be there, no matter what, and He will always love us. Who is able to snatch even one of the sheep out of the Shepherd's hand? I am safe in His embrace and content in His never-ending love and nothing can ever change that. Once we are His, we remain His.

I have a Love this February 14th...Jesus. He serenades me through the Scriptures, and through the obvious love He has poured out all around me through my parents, my siblings, and my friends. I love my Savior passionately. He died to save me. What greater love can there be than that?

In closing, here are some favorite *love* quotes of mine:

"Can he love her? Can the soul really be satisfied with such polite affections? To love is to burn - to be on fire, like Juliet or Guinevere or Eloise..." - Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility

"Dear Diary, Today I tried not to think about Mr. Knightly. I tried not to think about him when I discussed the menu with Cook... I tried not to think about him in the garden where I thrice plucked the petals off a daisy to acertain his feelings for Harriet. I don't think we should keep daisies in the garden, they really are a drab little flower. And I tried not to think about him when I went to bed, but something had to be done." - Jane Austen, Emma

"Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can the floods drown it." -Song of Solomon 8:7a

"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." - Dr. Suess

"My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite." - William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

And last, but certainly not least:

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13

Happy Valentine's Day!

I am Feeling: Content


I am Feeling: Thankful