Well, Andrew had invited me to go to the spaghetti and a movie Valentine's Day event at his church. I was a little apprehensive because I knew that he liked me and I just wasn't in a place in my life where I was ready to accept the pure love that he had for me, but he was quickly becoming my best friend in the whole world. So I decided to go but I brought a couple of friends with. For reasons that I cannot remember, possibly cheerleading, we got there late. We missed the dinner if I am remembering correctly, but were just in time for the movie and to visit just before. (They were watching Lady and the Tramp.)
But after visiting for a little while they were going to get the movie started but just before they did Andrew decided to give me his Valentine for me. As he handed it to me I could feel my face turning as red as the ribbon that was on it... It was a small, rectangular velvet box... Yes. One that you would normally receive jewelery in... I was more than mortified... "NOT JEWELERY" was the only thing that I could think to myself. So I opened it slowly, afraid of what I would find inside and as I did, I saw the best Valentine's Day present that any one would ever be able to give me...besides what we got last year.
If you are an "Office" watcher, remember back to before Jim and Pam were dating and Jim actually got Pam's name for the Secret Santa event. Remember what he got for her? He had gotten her a tea-pot which she had been wanting for so long, and he filled it with little things that had a lot of meaning behind them, a yearbook photo, and other inside jokes. Yea, Andrew is my Jim.
I opened the jewelry box and inside I was delighted to find it full of red Skittles. Andrew had gone through a bag of Skittles and picked out the color that we both liked the most and always jokingly fought over. He even went so far as to pull the rest of the skittles out of his pocket and give them to me. It struck me just what an honest and special gift it really was. That he would be so creative and go through the trouble to pick out all of the red ones means so much to me today. What a gift. Simple, thoughtful and so full of love.
. . .
Along that same line, I was reading my daily devotion last night and it just really touched me and spoke to numerous struggles that I am facing, and just goes along with Valentine's Day beautifully. It comes right out of "DAILY SEEDS from women who walk in faith" and this day is written by Dee Brestin:
"The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friends who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete." John 3:29
"Sometimes I think single women are better equipped to understand the portrait of Jesus as our Bridegroom. I certainly learned a great deal from my coauthor, Kathy Triccoli, when we wrote a trilogy on the Bridegroom. I remember the first night we went out to dinner together.
'Dee, let's have a romantic evening.'
'I don't understand.'
'Oh Dee-your definition of romance is so limited! Romance is so much bigger than a guy and a girl. Romance has to do with making things lovely because of love. Candles, food served elegantly, and meaningful conversation.'
Kathy has helped me to see what a romantic God we serve. He set the stars in place, He writes to us in poetry, and He gives us love stories in the Old Testament - parables to help us understand His love for us. In each of them, there is a bride who feels unworthy - but then there is a Bridegroom who loves her just the way she is - but too much, as Max Lucado puts it, 'to let her stay that way.'
Ruth, the Shulamite maiden, and Gomer all felt unworthy. Yet each one was deeply loved and taken higher by her Bridegroom. Boaz 'covered' Ruth with his garment, as Jesus covers us with His righteousness. Hosea bought Gomer when she was naked on the auction block, as Jesus bought us. Though the Shulamite pleaded for Solomon not to look at her, he told her she was 'a lily among thorns,' and pleaded with her, 'Come away, my love.'
will you believe that you are loved by your heavenly Bridegroom? Will you trust that His righteousness covers you? Will you abandon yourself to Him and allow Him to take you higher?"
As you face Valentine's today, whether your Love is with you or miles away, remember that Jesus is the perfect love and bask in that more today than you ever have because He is the Husband that is the creator of romance and he has abundant and even unending amounts of it to share with you.
Enjoy Valentine's Day today my friend. Make it a day to remember whether or not your lovemeets your expectations because Jesus always will.
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