When Your Heart Hurts on Valentine's Day



Valentine's Day isn't a day of hugs and kisses for everyone. Devastated from a break up, a death, a difficult marriage, or never feeling loved by anyone, you feel Cupid's arrow shot right into your heart, and you hurt.

I hurt for you too. Please know you have a God who loves you.  He will never hurt you. You are His own precious treasure and His arms of love surround you. He cries "Cling to me!" and yearns to embrace you with His lavish love.

What can you do to celebrate Valentine's Day?  Choose to love!

Here are some suggestions to take you out of the Valentine's Day blues:

1. Bake heart shaped cookies and take them to your neighbor, a hurting friend, a nursing home, a widow, your newspaper carrier, a military family, your Pastor's family, anyone! Who doesn't love a sugar cookie!

2. Call someone who needs a word of encouragement!

3. Find a friend who is alone tonight and go out to dinner and celebrate the gift of God's love for you.

4. Volunteer to babysit for a young couple who needs a date and can't afford a babysitter. I know babysitting can be exhausting, so take a friend who can help. If you have the financial ability, bless the couple with money for their date.

5. Grab a Concordance and read every passage on love.

6. Take a hymnbook and sing all the songs with "love" in the title!

 At the end of the day, wrap yourself in Jesus's arms and sing "Jesus loves me. This I know. For the Bible tells me so." Rest in Him aware of His great love for you. It's true, you know. Jesus loves you.

There are so many ways to celebrate love! Let's hear some ideas from you.

May your Valentine's Day be filled with love as you love others!


 

Drowning in Despair? Here is a Splash of Serenity for You!

Need some serenity as you take the heat? Feel like you are drowning in the despair of the day? Going through deep waters and barely keeping afloat?

News Splash! God's Hand is holding yours and He won't let go!

This photo of my friend's baby and husband taken at Ithaca Falls brought to mind a favorite scripture for when I need a Splash of Serenity. I pray it encourages you.

"But now, this is what the Lord says--
'Fear not,
I have summoned you by name;
you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you....
Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you,....
Do not be afraid, for I am with you;...
No one can deliver out of my hand....'" Isaiah 43:1- (NIV)

Ahh! Refreshing! I feel better all ready. Don't you?

Fill your day with God's Splashes of Serenity. He never met us to be overwhelmed with problems. He holds us up. He is our life preserver--He is all we need to keep afloat.

So splash! Don't let today's troubles overtake you. You are HIS! So grab God's Hand, jump in and enjoy a swim with Jesus.

What gives you a splash of serenity on a difficult day? I'd love to know. Let us encourage each other.

Elaine

The Last Walk

My dad and I took great walks together. When I was a little girl, we walked in his garden. The corn stalks grew way over my head and my dad protected me. "Don't move!" he commanded. Stopped in my tracks, I looked down to see a big black snake at my feet. Walks in the garden weren't so fun once I realized a snake resided there. In the winter we would walk up snowy hills and ride down on the old wooden Flexible Flyer sled. Dad would lie on his tummy and I would lie on top of him holding on for dear life as we sped down icy slopes. What fun! As we grew older we had longer walks and talks about life and unseen snakes and lions that prowl around seeking to devour naive young girls.

I have a picture to commemorate one of our best treks. On Dad's 87th birthday we walked 27 holes of golf and Dad shot the best score of his life--two over par. Now that was a memorable day as shown from the ear-to-ear grin on Dad's sweet face photographed, framed, and placed predominately on my piano.

It was only a few months later Dad became sick. We sat together in stillness knowing our days together would soon end. The twinkle in his eye sparkled as his mouth looked up in a grin. "Let's take a walk," he suggested. I think in Dad's heart he pushed himself for one last walk with his daughter. We shuffled down the hospital corridor. With one hand he held onto me. With the other, he held the IV pole. We talked about all the walks we had taken. I said the best walk had been the 27 holes of golf on his 87th birthday. He disagreed, saying the best walk was walking me down the church aisle to marry my husband. Our eyes were wet then as they were now. I made a joke about his wanting me married so he wouldn't have to pay my dental bills. But we both knew Dad was giving his blessing and approval of the man we both loved--my husband.

Dan and I treasure our long walks. Walking together is a priority to keep our bodies and our marriage in good shape. Our hands and hearts touch as we walk and talk about life--how good it has been, and how blessed we are by our love. Sometimes, we encourage each other by pointing out lions and snakes the other might be missing. We leave nothing unsaid, for we never know which walk will be our last.

Death can come at any time. It came quickly for my Dad. The walk down the hospital hall was our last walk together. Shortly after, Dad was peacefully ushered to Heaven by God.

Must be God likes walks too. "I will walk among you and be your God." He says in Leviticus 26:12 (NIV). God walked in the garden with Adam and warned him of snakes. I don't think God ever meant us to take a step without Him. He knows what lies ahead on our trail and he desires to talk to us, bless us, and protect us from lions and serpents. Sometimes He'll pick us up and carry us when we grow weary on the journey. Most important, I don't think there will be any disagreement that the best walk will be that last walk when He ushers His followers to Heaven.

If your dad is still on earth--enjoy a walk with him this Father's Day. Time is too precious to miss out on those memories.