Love – an emotion with multiple synonyms and its very own holiday – Valentine’s Day. In 2014, Americans spent over $17 billion on Valentine’s Day just to say, Hey, you’re still the one; you are the one, or you could be the one. I’d guess you’d say that we really, really value our romantic notions of love, or maybe we just don’t want to be alone.
But this year, Valentine’s Day fell on a Sunday, and at our church that meant expressions of a different form of Love. (Please notice the capitalization.) We celebrated baptisms. As I sat folded quietly in the pew watching the public professions of faith with Jug snoring quietly on my feet, I contemplated love as we offer it with flowers and candy and jewelry versus Love as He offers it through Christmas and Easter and grace.
Now, my perceptions of human romantic love may be a bit skewed. I can admit to that, but who hasn’t experienced some sort of drama/trauma at the hands of Cupid? (Could someone please explain how a toddler with a weapon is an emblem of love anyway??? That symbol might need to be rethought.) However, even knowing that I may not have an exactly “spot-on” view, I’d still tender this thought: we are flawed, broken people who don’t know how to love well. Separate from being taught how to do so from the Father and Son who offered the ultimate sacrifice – the ultimate gift of Love, we’re never going to grow into the selfless individuals it requires to make a life-long commitment like marriage work. Let’s back off from the life-long and go for just the day-to-day because, really, isn’t that what marriage or long-term relationships take – a daily decision? Now these issues may never again apply to me, but, still, let’s do something about Cupid. (He really, totally creeps me out.)
Leaving the sanctuary yesterday did not leave His Love behind. Instead, it drifted on the bright Arizona morning winter sunshine to the Children’s Building with me. Half an hour into my behind-the desk shift a friend carried a 3-week old beautiful baby girl into the lobby and passed the tiny human into my arms. I drank in the perfect miniature ears and feet and hands and, then – my favorite – her tiny, perfect fingernails. I cooed, and rocked, and smiled into her yet un-focusing eyes, and I saw the face of God in the infant in my arms, and I felt His arms around me reminding me that even when I feel my loneliest, most unlovable, I am loved beyond my wildest dreams.
My heart – my Valentine’s Day – though popular culture would tell you I should’ve been sad and miserable (and there were a few moments of self-pity, none of which hit Bridget Jones proportions btw, for which I am not proud), was, overall, content and complete. I hope your heart and your day was, too.
Happy Belated Valentine’s Day.
The Unexpected Life 