Happy Valentine’s Day to all my Facebook friends. I
must admit that this is my most un-favorite holiday. This was one celebration that
I always used to hate as a kid. I remember the anxiety as an elementary school
kid worrying about whether I would receive any valentines from classmates. It
was almost like the stress of being one of the last kids picked for the dodge
ball team during gym class. In Junior High that feeling of dread was even worse
as the school I attended sold carnations that you could have delivered to your
"special valentine". I remember more than a few times being one of
the guys in class that was "carnation-less" while other classmates
walked around the school carrying large bouquets sent by their many ardent
admirers. I always hated that feeling of being forgotten on Valentine’s Day. I
hadn't felt that feeling for many years up until last Valentine’s Day. That was
the first holiday after the finalization of my divorce and I again felt that
pang of "alone-ness" that day. When I initially received my final
divorce decree I was feeling pretty alone and rejected. After 25 years of
marriage I never expected or desired to be single again. At that point, out of necessity,
I had moved in with my mother, and that Valentine’s Day I was feeling every bit
of a failure. My plans that evening were to simply hang out at my mom's house
and watch TV. That afternoon however, I got an invitation from a family friend
to join her for a dinner party at her house. She had invited a few of her
friends from church over for a Valentines dinner and asked me to join them.
It's amazing how much it impacted me that day just knowing that I wasn't
forgotten about and somebody actually remembered me. One of the things that hit
me as I was writing this post was the fact that not only does our heavenly
father never forget us--but also the thought that he sent us all the ultimate
valentine when Jesus was born. God sent his son so that we can have a heartfelt
relationship with him. God knows you and your circumstances and it's his
biggest heart’s desire for you to really understand his tremendous love for
you. Whether you have experienced the death of a spouse or loved one, the death
of a marriage (divorce) or are simply feeling alone--God wants to meet you in
that wounded place and bring you comfort. When I was at the lowest point in my
life--I called out for God's comfort and he met me in that place. He
overwhelmed me with his love and affection. He showed me in so many ways that
he was with me and that he cared. If you’re going through hard times right now
and have stumbled across this post--it was not by accident. God wants you to
know that he loves you deeply and desires to hear from you. He sees you when
you are disheartened and his heart is heavy when you cry. God is aware of your
circumstances and will work everything out for your best when you turn to him.
Although things might seem dark and hopeless at present--your heavenly father
desires to bring joy back into your life. When we turn to him he can
"bring beauty from ashes" and redeem even the most painful trauma in
our lives. Just remember that our heavenly father is someone who never forgets
us on Valentine’s Day.
1 Peter 5:7
"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Isaiah 61
"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed
me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness
for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of
vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who
grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of
joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of
despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for
the display of his splendor."
