I want to challenge that. Let me start by saying I have always been single on Valentine's Day. I have had my fair share of being grumpy, whiny and full of self-pity on this momentous occasion. We have gone out to dinner as a family on Valentine's Day before (I think it was about 3 years back) and my mom (who loves any holiday) requested that we wear red to be festive - ooh, the self-pity and proclamations of the day being 'Single Awareness Day' abounded!! Not my proudest moment. (In case you're wondering - my mom won and I wore a nice red shirt...)
My challenge is this - why are we allowing ourselves to throw away an entire day on the pretext of 'I'm single'? A day that God has been gracious enough to give us. I hate be a 'downer' but we don't know how many days God is going to give us. We shouldn't allow ourselves to waste even a single moment, much less an entire day! Besides, if we wander around bemoaning our single state, we are honestly questioning God and His plan for what is best for our lives. According to Matthew 7:11, "If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" God isn't currently withholding something from you because He's mean, He's doing it because He loves you and has a different plan for you than you do for yourself. Yes, I have done my fair share of complaining about my singleness, but as I look back over the last few years and see what God has been able to do in my life that He wouldn't have been able to do if I hadn't been single, I have been humbled and left in awe. And I'm going to pray for strength to stop complaining.
Anyway, so here we are, it's Valentine's Day and everywhere we find pink and red hearts, delicious chocolate and gorgeous flowers that you are either longing to receive or desiring to give. Well, it's kind of weird to give them to yourself (although according to this poll conducted by date.com, 80% of women has sent themselves something on Valentine's Day. However, I don't think the women polled on date.com are an accurate representation of women-kind as a whole...), but why don't you give them to someone else? There's always the old stand-by of giving flowers or candy to your mom or siblings, but usually that comes with it's own self-pity: "Here I am buying flowers for my mom because I don't have anyone else to give them to." How about stepping out a little bit? What about taking flowers and a sweet card to the lady at your church that was recently widowed? Or better yet, the little old lady across the street who has been all alone for a few years. What about the family you know who recently lost a family member? I can guarantee you that they are feeling much more lonely than you are and you can make their day. What about the lonely little girl you know who desperately needs love and who's year would be made by a small bag of chocolate, a pink rose and a card letting her know Jesus loves her and so do you. The teen girl who has been looking for love in all the wrong places and who just needs some encouragement. They would be blessed immensely. The benefit to you? You're pulling the attention off of yourself and going out and serving God's people!
Also, sit back and dwell on all the ways God has shown His love for you. Start with the obvious ones (you know, paid for your sins, rescued you from eternal death), but then get creative. Start really thinking about the wonderful things God has lavished His love upon You. Take your time: you were just complaining about not having anything to do today, right? ;) Rejoice in that love and those gifts and that grace! Then share it with the world!
I'm sure there are many things you can do today that I have forgotten (please leave your ideas in the comments because I would love to hear them!). But my point, dear brothers and sisters, is don't allow yourself to be miserable today and take away the joy of everyone around you. You have been given this day from your Heavenly Father and need to make the most of it - you have no idea how many more you are going to get. I can't think of anything better than to take a day that I don't always look forward to and changing it into something that I can look forward to and bless the people around me with!
Well, I'm going to go put on my pink Snoopy Valentine's Day shirt, make some Red Velvet brownies for my family and start spreading some pink and red love. Anyone else with me??
Blessings in Christ,
