Egads, every year this mush-filled day creeps up on us – WHAM – it’s here.  Time to forage for chocolates & share beautiful roses with those we love (or make a nice meal or special cakes or cookies or whatever  – with lots of chocolate!)

CHOCOLATE (definitely works for me), but roses are nice (note here at Roses in the Rubble, your author has a thing for roses, like she regularly indulges in dozens for any occasion – last year’s Super Bowl? Yellow & white roses : )

The thing is, on this day when sweethearts get all gooey-eyed, there are many folks out there who are single… maybe forever single, or single (again) or what what, but seeing everyone get all sentimental everywhere is Not Easy.

When I was young(er) & lived in Washington, D.C., & being Dateless on this day was a Big Deal, one year instead of drowning myself in chocolates (kinda fun, actually) I decided to send out Valentine’s cards to all those I loved, ‘liked-a-lot,’ and then those who I maybe didn’t like-a-lot, but who God loves-a-lot.. so basically, most everyone I knew – it turned into quite a big pile (a Big Mailing Project – this was, gasp, pre-Internet, email & FB!)

If you’re experiencing Valentines Day Blues (or even if you have an awesomely awesome mate), you can start by thanking God for all those in your life who have loved YOU.. and who you LOVE (not just mushy relationships, but you know, those Other Kinds – friendship, mentorship, family-ship) … and then TELL THEM YOU LOVE THEM (or maybe “care a-lot” if that L-O-V-E word is hard to articulate…)

In that long-ago Valentine mailing I included a bright pink paper insert of Saint Paul’s Valentine about God’s Love (located in I Corinthians 13…)

“If I speak in the tongues of  men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries & all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.  But where there are prophesies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection, as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is Love.

This kind of God’s love is rather hard to have & to share. But as my Papa says (rather often), “I can’t but He can….” methinks this Love is the ‘must-ask-God’s-Help-for kind (especially if your husband, partner, boyfriend forgot Valentines Chocolates, again?!)

Singletons don’t get a free pass on this one, as God calls us ALL to be filled with this kind of Love… yep, that Beanhead co-worker, your cranky neighbor, that always-a-downer to see friend… or irascible family members (it is actually a good idea to give lots of room to sisters, mothers, daughters going through ‘The Change’ – lots of room, and remember THEY ARE ALWAYS RIGHT!)

re: ‘Love is patient… & it keeps No Record Of Wrongs..’

So, as you contemplate Love on this Valentines Day…1st, know that you ARE loved by our Heavenly Creator – His fountain of Love for us never runs dry – then ask to be filled from that Agape Fountain, and you might hear His voice saying:’

“Receive My love ANEW, to BE My love ANEW…”

Let’s open up our hearts!  (a little wider…)

grace, peace & Valentines Love (the Heavenly Kind!)

Virginia : )

p.s. oops, forgot to add a good Valentine Movie recommendation, if you want to snuggle up with a box of Chocolates (and if, like us, you already watched the Sound of Music this year, such an inspiring romance!)…check out “Return to Me” a total FAVORITE (Bonnie Hunt, David Duchovny – woot, woot!, Minnie Driver, Carol O’Connor, Jim Belushi and more..)

It’s totally inspiring, but also – lots of fun!! : )