By: Sheryl Taylor
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment… instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” 1 Peter 3:3-4.
My friend gave me a poster with that written on it, and I find that as Valentine’s Day is drawing nearer, I am glancing more and more at that poster. I haven’t fully gotten over Christmas, my favorite holiday, and Valentine’s Day, my not so favorite holiday is sneaking up on me. I haven’t had many good Valentine’s Days, in the past, I would look around my school in awe of all the flowers, shy boys handing girls flowers, and lockers decorated with hearts and glitter, and then I would go to my plain locker and realize that once again I would be alone on Valentine’s Day. The only gifts I ever got were from my mom, and even though I loved them, it wasn’t the same as if a guy gave it to me.
I started to blame the reason I had no boys’ attention on my looks. I promised myself I wouldn’t date until college, but no boy knew about that promise, so I always wondered what stopped them from asking me. I hated myself, I would cry myself to sleep, I wouldn’t look at anything reflective, I would wash my face and go out the door, putting my hair in a pony tail on my way to the car so I wouldn’t have to look at myself. Truth is, some boys did try to come after me, but because they weren’t popular, or the hottest guys in school. I subconsciously told myself that they didn’t count.
This year I find that I am growing more and more in my faith, and I find that I’m not dreading Valentine’s Day this time. I’m actually looking forward to it because I do have someone to share it with. In fact, He was always there, I just ignored him. God’s lovely Son died to proclaim His love for me and for you, and I’m head over heals in love with Him. He loves me not in spite of my scars and flaws, but because of them.
This Valentine’s Day, I can proudly walk down the halls, and I can bet that my Valentine did more for me than any Valentine ever did, because not only did he die for me, but he lives in me, “… God is love, whoever lives in love lives in God, and God lives in him” 1 John 4:16.
This Valentine’s Day I ask you not to focus so much on the flowers, the chocolates, and the teddy bears, but on God’s undying love for you, that even if all others forsake you His love will endure the test of time. Take time out for God this Valentine’s Day, and get caught up in His love for you.
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