Red Roses for Valentine's Day

You know, up till this point, Valentine's Day to me has been nothing more than a day to play dress up with my little siblings, eat chocolates with no guilt whatsoever, make paper Valentines, and drink my tea out of a mug with hearts on it. But this year, for some reason... I dunno, perhaps I'm getting old, but yesterday I caught my mind wandering as I walked past the Valentines display in the grocery store. I saw a display of red roses, thought about how beautiful they were, and then considered how wonderful it would be to be a recipient of one of those flowers someday. I might have smiled and blushed at the thought... That, it seemed to me, would be pretty special.

Still, I quickly dismissed these ponderings: I try to keep my head in the present as much as possible, and when one is on a mission to find chocolate syrup and pink napkins, one must not get distracted thinking about things that make you blush. ;) I found the things I needed, purchased them, and left the store.

Later on that day, however, my mind wandered back to those roses. Only this time, when I caught myself thinking about a possible future admirer, I directed my thoughts toward the romance that I already have; my divine romance, my relationship with Jesus Christ. It is that relationship that matters most to me, and it is that relationship that I want to always take first priority in my life. I thought about that, and asked myself why I would wish for anything more? I suppose, I thought, having a someone who would buy me a rose would make me feel special... And I imagined to myself how grateful I would be to receive a gift like that from them.

But then... I realized. There are so many things, all around me, every day, that God has given to me. Here I was wishing for an admirer to buy me a red rose on Valentine's Day... But I have a Creator who loves me, and every day shows it in so many ways! The beauty of nature, the joy of my family, the blessing of friends... I have red roses from my Lord every day, in these things. Every day He gives me more. Every day I have a fresh bouquet. Not just on Valentine's Day. Not just for special occasions. Every day I get a bouquet of fresh reminders that He loves me.

(Wowie. Way to make me feel special!)

So this Valentine's Day I've been thinking beyond chocolates and hearts and dress up. This year I've been thinking about red roses; and from now on, I hope and pray that I treat the ones from my Savior with the same attitude of thanks that I'd wish to show an admirer with a rose. Jesus loves me; and I have mountains of red roses all around me to prove it. :)