February 14th known as Valentine’s Day. What do you think of when you hear the words…Valentine’s Day? Do you feel the beating heart of love? Do you have a spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend that makes your blood run warm? Do you feel sad, alone? Do you love Valentine’s Day or hate it? 

We all have different thoughts and emotions when it comes to February 14th. Stories, reasons, love and pain fill of hearts. This day of paper hearts, red roses, decadent chocolates, and Hallmark cards. A day to cherish or a day to jump over. 

We all have our reasons. Whether single, dating or married our hearts can be all over the board on Valentine’s day. 

I would like to take a moment to talk to the single folks first. Those hoping, longing for a companion. One to hold on this day. I was single once too. I cried tears wondering if there was a man out there for me. I dreaded Valentine’s Day and got frustrated when married people sent me “sympathy” cards. Being single is tough. It feels lonely. However, I want to encourage you. God is preparing someone for you. God has a plan for your life. The more we can accept that the more freedom and peace we can find in our daily living. Waiting is difficult. Waiting for God’s perfect plan to unfold seems stretching. And it is. It is a time, no matter what we are waiting for to lean in and trust God. 

When my husband was single he wanted to get married. All his friends were getting married and having kids around him. He had lonely nights. Yet he waited. Now as his wife I am grateful. Thankful God protected him and guided him through his single years.

Why did it take so long for my husband and I to meet one another? Only God fully knows. God is writing a precious story in each of us whether single or married. 

Now for the married folks. Today, February 14th is not the only day in the year for sweet surprises. No, there are 364 other days. Are we using them to tell our spouses how much we love and care about them? Are love and romance only for one day? Marriage is for a lifetime. Are we treating it with that much value? Are we giving time, attention, love, respect to our spouse to carry our union through until our last breath? 

Every day we live. Every day we have breath is a day to love those near to us. Spouse, family member, friend…all of them need love, need our love. 

 

Ephesians 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. ESV

1 Corinthians 13:4-7  Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. NLT

Ephesians 5:22-23 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. NLT

Ephesians 5:25-26 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. NLT

Ephesians 5:33  However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. ESV

Psalm 27:14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! NKJV