Is it just me or is Valentines Day is source of pain for a
lot of people? We all have dreams of surprise gifts and declarations of undying
love- but to be honest it has never been a day like that for me. I am happy to say I’m not one of those
bitter, heartbroken people who just want to burn pictures of past boyfriends
and throw things at couples on the street – however I have to admit- when V-day
rolls around I’d rather pretend I don’t know. Or just sleep through it.
Until this one. This year I had the best Valentines Day ever!
The day began in El Carmen, Ecuador where I am staying with
a team of 7 World Racers (5 gals, 2 guys) and my co leaders Beth and Robby.
When we woke up that morning, bright and early our INCREDIBLE men, Robby, Joel
and Daniel had gone and bought all us girls heart-shaped balloons and 3 roses
each. I must say I was totally stunned and as giddy as a 13 year old. After the oooooing and awwwwing and
picture taking, the crew of us hoped in the back of a truck and drove 2 hours
through the Ecuadorian countryside, hair blowing in the wind, to the coast
where we played at the beach all day. Seeing the Pacific Ocean was ointment to
my soul! I have been away from home for so long over the past 2 years that it
was like coming home to San Francisco. Driving up, it felt like God was handing
me a neatly wrapped package with an oversized bow- that He’d been waiting to
give me. Ah. The sun was scorching
and perfect, the water was like a bath ( a very refreshing bath) and the waves
were rolling in flawless time. I spent hours on a boogie board (which cost $1
to rent) chasing the surf, giggling like a little girl, getting pummeled by the
waves and the love of my God. It
was epic.
After returning home, our pastor’s lovely wife had prepared
a meal for us. Not only was it NOT white rice but it WAS Kraft Macaroni and
Cheese!!!! I know this seams like a ridiculous thing to celebrate, but once
you’ve lived without comforts of home for a while and eaten only white rice its
enough to make you want to cry. Trust me.
So there I was at the end of the day feeling full, sun
kissed and absolutely adored by my Father. As I basked in it, I started
thinking about all the other Valentines Days I had spent waiting for a guy to
remember me, grieving over a recent break up or watching everyone else get
flowers pretending I didn’t care and I realized something. God was there all
those Valentines Days. He has been pursuing me all my life! I just never gave
him the time of day. And now I will never have to face a Valentines Day like
those again. My relationship with
Jesus is something I will never lose. In fact it only gets better, stronger and
deeper. So no matter what future
V-Days hold I can rest assured that there is always someone who remembers me;
always someone who wants to give me flowers. And He can give me a field of them!
