because Valentine's Day does not define your worth...

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

 

- 1 John 4:10

Valentine's Day is a tough day. Whether you're single or not, it's probably one of the most difficult days of the year. I've spent more years without a Valentine than I have with one, and so I've seen both sides of the coin. Single people hate Valentine's Day, understandably, while couples are spending the day either stressed out as they try to live up to the hype or disappointed that the day wasn't as magical as they expected. Let's face it, no one really has it easy on Valentine's Day.

I've well learned over the years that life is what you make of it. Mind over matter. And while it's no easy task, our thoughts really do matter. Because we have a choice in how we look at life, at the hand we're dealt. Like I said, I've spent more years without a Valentine than I have with one, and few were the years that it bothered me. But I remember the year that it did. The year that I just knew it was going to be the hardest day. I figured I'd be miserable and unhappy as I watched everyone else publically display their love for one another. And I realized that I was allowing one day, one day that was - let's face it - created as a money making ploy, to determine my worth. That if I didn't have someone sending me flowers, if I didn't get a box of chocolate, if I didn't have a nice dinner date, I was worthless. I was less than desirable, I was unwanted, and I would never be good enough.

But flowers don't mean that you are loved. A really expensive dinner doesn't mean that you're valued. A box chocolates doesn't mean that you're special. Because those are just things. Things that fade, that die, that waste. That's not love. Love doesn't do those things. Love doesn't wilt. It doesn't go bad after it's predetermined shelf life. Love doesn't hang in there for an hour and a half in its nicest dress and heels. Love doesn't come in an expensive bottle only to be used up and thrown away. It doesn't wrap itself around your wrist until it tarnishes or goes out of style. And love doesn't exist on just one day.

Love created you. Love breathes life into your lungs every moment. Love knew you before you were born. Love formed you just the way you are. Love knows the number of hairs on your head, the number of heart beats you'll have. Love has seen you in every way, shape, and form, and love chooses you. Love was nailed to a cross for you. Love has forgiven your sins and redeemed you. Love says you're worth it, you matter. Love has kept record of every tear you shed and has held you together on your hardest days. Love has rejoiced with you each time you succeeded and love has been by your side every step of the way. Love has never left you, never forsaken you. Love will never stop pursuing you because Love is coming back for you.