I admit it… I used to be an angry single cynic. (I know, I know. It’s so hard to imagine 
) I thought Valentine’s Day was a stupid made-up Hallmark holiday created to get Americans to waste spend more money. It was miserable being single and hearing all about love for weeks leading up to it.
But then I met Chris.
I don’t think I had ever had a real Valentine before him… The way boyfriends fell we were either broken up, on a break, or I had been single. But then Chris came around (again) one wonderful July, we were together in November, engaged that next March and married in October. And now I will forever have a Valentine.
But holidays like this do make me remember those lonelier days when I felt sad and incomplete. No, I am NOT saying a woman is not whole without a man. Not at all… But for me, I knew that I was meant to be in partnership with a husband and I longed for that so badly. And I think about my single friends who desperately desire to have that.
And I think about the 160ish million orphans in the world who desperately desire to be loved at all. Who crave a hug, or a simple touch on the face. A warm body to lay against, or the feeling of a mother’s eyelashes on her baby’s cheek. They just want someone to love them. To hold them. To know them. To want them. To see them.
Chris and I have never been able to buy each other gifts on Valentine’s Day, or send flowers, or any of that… But through the grace of God we have been able to bring massive amounts of His love to our baby girl. We have been blessed to bring Moses out of an orphanage and into a family and community that loves him deeply. Where he is touched and held and cared for. And now we will bring another little life into this world and raise him/her up to know the love of a family and of the Father.
And I pray we get to adopt again, at least once more. Until then, I will keep praying for all those lonely hearts out there who desire to be loved.
And I pray you know His love today and always.
