All we need is love...right?

I sent several texts this morning that just read, "Happy Icky Love Day." Does THAT help you understand how I feel about this day? ;)

Okay, love is a beautiful thing. Truly it is. Love in the form of a Heavenly Father who sent His Son to save us so we could live with Him one day? THAT is love.

Valentine's Day unfortunately for many of us is a reminder of our lack of love, lack of significance in someone else's life romantically. Is that all there is to love? No. But is that how it feels? Pretty much. And it pretty much stinks. I know my value in the Lord. I know my value is not in having a partner. I know I have beautiful friends and great family that surround me and support me daily.

But that knowledge doesn't ease the loneliness or assuage the heartache, especially on a day like today.

I celebrated Galentine's Day with some sweet friends of mine last night and was so glad to be in their presence and be reminded of their love for me. Without them, I'd be lost. One thing that I was struck and saddened by last night was a turn in the conversation when we all three talked about how difficult growing up was for each of us at different times. Whether it was teeth that weren't straight, chubby faces and bodies, straggly hair, or even Goodwill clothing, each of us carried a lot of baggage just getting through our school ages. And, sadly, some of that baggage carried through to our adult lives. Some of the baggage was picked up unnecessarily and mistakenly. We didn't realize we were okay just the way we were, that God had created us in His own image. Some of the baggage was thrown at us by the peers in our lives that felt it necessary to make us miserable. Some of the baggage was hefted on our backs by family that didn't understand the burdens we carried in our young lives.

So, now we're at this Icky Love Day again, and for some of us the baggage of long ago continues to be carried. So, when you come across someone today or even the rest of this week and they comment on how depressing the holiday is/was or how much they hate it, instead of telling them the most unhelpful comment of "Oh, you'll find someone one day," tell them you love them and ask how you can support them. Because, let me tell you, I hate when someone tells me I'll find someone one day. Seriously, are they hiding? NO! Maybe I'm the World's Worst Hide N Seek player! It doesn't help and it's condescending and to be quite honest, it makes me want to shove a chocolate heart down your throat. :) (I'm mostly kidding.)

All we really need is love. I do believe that. But it's how we love each other that is important. Are we doing it unconditionally? Are we doing with abandon? Are we doing when it's hard? Are we doing it when life is not playing fair? Are we doing it with the intention of helping someone put down their baggage instead of heaping more on them?

Love each other. It's a commandment. But it's also sooooo intensely needed and unbelievably important to our fragile, human hearts.

Yep, I got a bit off track with really two separate points in here, but hopefully you'll forgive my jumbled heart today. Just know that no matter who says it to you today, you are fiercely loved by a God who designed you exactly the way you are. You are loved. You are enough. You are needed. You are!