First Love

Today is Valentine's Day, and while scrolling through my Facebook posts, it's interesting to see the different statements, attitudes, and views concerning this day of LOVE.  It's funny how through the journey of life, one's perspective can change drastically.  As young children it is a special day because we get to enjoy parties at school (candy is the highlight) and share sweet, innocent cards with our friends.  A few years later, we get excited that we might receive a valentine note from a secret admirer and the flutters in our tummies go wild.  Normally, by high school, most get to share Valentine's Day with a special someone...flowers, balloons, cards, chocolates are vastly spread across campus.  College is much the same as high school, except the Valentines are more serious, and sometimes even include a marriage proposal.

For me, it was a little different, because my first real Valentine's came after Chris and I were engaged.  Don't get me wrong, I have loved every Valentines I have spent with him as he has made me feel cherished, loved, blessed!  Additionally, my Dad and Mom always made the day special, from homemade heart shaped cookies to special nights of dinner and movies.  On Valentine's Day in my past, I have never doubted that I am loved by someone.

However, as I think back on today, the one Valentine's that I will always remember was my freshman year in college.  Not because I went on a special date, or because I had someone special in my life, but because of the sweet, kind gift of a friend, who encouraged me to realize that every Valentine's Day of my life, I have been loved by my FIRST LOVE!  In college, receiving mail was always a joy, and on that day about 11 years ago, I went to my mail box and inside found a package with a letter.  Inside the package was a book by my favorite author and a note that reminded me on a day of LOVE, that God loved me first and it was Him who remembered me, Him who loved me most, Him who considered me worthy of LOVE!  In all the moments of loneliness, jealousy, questioning, even days other than February 14, He held me near to His heart and His love was unconditional.  Chris is the love of my life, but God will always and forever be my FIRST LOVE!  To this day I still don't know who the friend was, but I am thankful for the memory, the gift, the reminder...