When Valentine’s Day finds you single

This will be my 27^th year without a date or “special someone” for Valentines Day.  It’s not like I’ve never dated or been in relationships but they’ve never happened around Valentine’s.  I realize that this holiday can be depressing if you’re single.  I get it.  You want a boyfriend or girlfriend, heck a spouse, just like everyone else seems to have.  If your social media feeds are anything like mine you probably assume the last single person (besides you)  just got engaged.  For the record though I’ve managed to not be depressed on any of those Valentines and instead they’ve been beautiful memories.  It’s because I’ve learned a few important things from people wiser than I am.  I wanted to share them with you too in the hopes that you’ll have an awesome Valentine’s day.

You’re not forgotten.  Nope you’re not.  When everyone seems to be dreaming about their person there’s someone thinking about you.  Someone really important has you on their mind all the time.  And I don’t mean your future spouse.  The God of the universe is thinking about YOU!  He’s more attentive than anyone you’ll ever meet.  Period.  You may forget him but he will never forget you.

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” Isaiah 49:15-16

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down     and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.” Psalms 139:1-4

Considering that God knows the number of hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30) I’d say that shows you are not forgotten.  Let’s not forget the number of hairs on your head are constantly changing…

Along those same lines, you’re not alone.  If you follow Christ he says that he will never leave you or forsake you.  The one who made all the flowers in the world and makes coco beans grow says he is by your side always.  I have some amazing friends and family but none of them are always able to be there for me 24/7 yet God is not only able but is with you all the time.  Even when he seems far away he’s not.

“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8

Okay so one of my pet peeves is the thinking that an individual is not a whole person unless they are married or dating.  Someone isn’t going to complete you unless it’s Jesus.  If you long for marriage then yes, I hope that a wonderful gal or guy comes into your life and adds so much joy to it but if you think that you’re not complete without them that is just a lie.  I hope to get married someday but even if I don’t God didn’t create me to be half a person walking around.  I mean how weird would that be?

You have purpose my friend.  We get to be in relationship with Jesus and see his beauty.  We get to love like crazy in so many ways.

This Valentine’s Day I hope you get to celebrate what true love is about.  True love is sacrificial.  True love lays down its life for others.  True love is being awed, amazed and delighted in the One who created us.  If that sounds boring to us then we may have a small view of God.  Instead of only thinking about our single selves today let’s celebrate that we get to be alive and that we can show love to those around us.  Let’s celebrate that the very One that defines love is singing over us.  Let’s be single people who are irresistibly attractive because of the way we love others.  Even if we spend all the rest of our Valentine’s Days single it will not have been wasted or boring if we choose to focus our minds on the One who loves us best.

Here’s some ideas to spread some love today and make you happier: write a valentine’s day card to someone you think might not get any, give flowers to a shut in, make dinner for some of your single friends, buy a chocolate bar and share it with a child you know, pamper a single mom, or pay for someone’s drink in line behind you.

If you’re sad or lonely or feeling forgotten or just want someone to hold you I hope you know you’re loved and valued.  Sending you a big hug!

xxx
~elaini