Single on Valentines?
Diane wrote Monday about trusting God’s timing when it comes to love and mentioned Joy Eggerichs, our favorite relationship blogger. We know many of you (and some of our staff!) are anticipating a single Valentine’s Day tomorrow. We’ve asked Joy (also single!) to kick off the day.
Joy’s gifted us with her Valentine’s Day post from last year. Read the original post over at loveandrespectNOW.com.
Many of us actually love to hate this day. And I get it. All this love in our faces, flowers galore, chocolate flowing forth, cards that say nice things, etc., etc.
Wait. I just reread that last sentence. Why do we love to hate this day?
The reality is, many of us feel forgotten, foolish, and frustrated.**
Expectations too high.
Expectations not met.
Love not reciprocated.
Reminders of love long gone.***
Whatever you deal with today, here is my challenge:
MAKE LOVE TODAY.
Whaaaaaa?! Joy, I’m telling your parents.
Look, if this day brings you disappointment, loneliness, or pain, don’t approach it with dread or disdain.** There are plenty of other days for stuff like that. (For instance, Canada’s Boxing Day.) Today, choose to remember that there are other people out there who are lonely, hurting, and desperate to feel like someone cares about them.
Make love a reality for them.
It seems almost impossible to give or create feelings of love when we feel starved of it ourselves. But I’ve shared multiple times that one of the most transformative times in my life was when I was on the brink of serious depression and my father challenged me to serve and give in the midst of my feeling unable to give anything.
Through some pretty tough seasons, I now believe God can work with our willingness, even in the midst of our brokenness.
So today I’m going to ask God how I can make love a reality for someone. I pray that He opens my eyes, and I pray that you will trust Him to open yours, too.
From my love-makin’ heart,
Joy
*Maybe
**Alliteration station
***Try to say those last three words five times fast.
And now the question for you: what are some tangible ways you can give love away today?