What's not to Love?

Happy Valentine's Day! 

Some people have adverse reactions to the day, but I do not (even though I don't have a significant other). To me, Valentine's Day does not have any special significance except that which we are willing to give it. It's a nice day to remember friends and loved ones. It does not have to be full of pressure and romantic obligations. 

When I was growing up, sometimes my dad gave my mom flowers, and sometimes he didn't. He brought her flowers on days it wasn't Valentine's, too. My mom never seemed to get upset if he didn't, and she was appreciative if he did. 

A day about love shouldn't be forced. It should be fun. It should be a good opportunity to do something special. We did special things at school today. For a fundraiser, some classmates sold giant sugar cookies in the shape of hearts. Students could order cookies for their friends. They were delicious and made me feel special. Also, the students decided to "dress their best" to surprise the teachers and also to commemorate Valentine's Day. I borrowed a prom dress from a friend and wore it to school. I looked and felt like a princess. How often does a girl get a reason to dress fancy after high school ends and there are no more dances? So I took full advantage of the situation. It's not an everyday sort of thing, but it was fun to do. Here's a picture of my friend Rachael and I, with the cookie Rae gave me, outside CanIL:

Valentine's Day is important not only because it helps me remember to tell my loved ones that they are special and it lets me pause to do fun things, but also because it reminds me of a greater love. If I get bummed about not getting flowers (which I don't. But last year my brother Dirk got me flowers, and it was wonderful), or not having someone special take me out, I remember that I have the best love of all. Yes, it sounds cheesy, but I cannot deny that the love of Jesus fills me up more than anyone else in the world. How can I explain the perfect sunshine or the cloudy mountains? The mist rising above the fields and the flowers blooming in the ditch. The smile on a face or kind words of someone who knows me best. They are love notes from Him, my first love. It would be easy to quote "for God so loved the world that he gave his only son..." and let that be my mantra for Valentine's Day, but it's not really. Everyone knows that verse. In some ways, we skip it because we already know it. It's not any less true or powerful, but it loses it's effect sometimes. 

This verse, though, captured my heart five years ago, and it won't let me go. I mean, who writes like this? Who loves like this? God's love is not limited to Jesus in the New Testament. He has been loving us all along, our great Savior, with a love that will not let go:

For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. 

I gave up Egypt, Ethiopia, and Seba as a ransom for your freedom.

Others died that you might live.

I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. 

You are honored, and I love you.

Isaiah 43:3-4, NLT

With that in mind, what's not to love about Valentine's Day?