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Love is in the air...

                                                                 Photo by Tim Marshall on Unsplash
Love is in the air.         

An internationally recognised day to show love by the giving of flowers and chocolate.
Valentine's Day.

Another holiday for a minority of people.
Strictly speaking as someone who has never had a 'valentine' or been someones 'valentine'
(yes I just owned that fun filled fact.)
I can honestly say it doesn't really bother me, it's just another day.
Well actually it's my cousins birthday ;)
(Shout out to Miranda, Happy Birthday!)

But for many it's a reminder of what they don't have.
Which can be a painful reality and often times with good reason.
Social media is a great one for throwing relationships and grand gestures of love in ones face.
Images everywhere.
And I confess, it's these moments that can shake your value in our culture at times.
It's tempting to believe the lie that love, value and home are found in an individual you choose to be in a 'romantic' long term relationship with.

Society can be a cruel place to singles at times, suggesting that life begins when you are dating, engaged, married or become a parent.
It caters to those roles.
Companies markets towards those individuals.
Aiming to sell products through beautifully constructed images of joyful couples, 'perfect lives' and aesthetically pleasing homes.
These are the things of life after all.

But what if you are none of these?
Does your value diminish?
Does your life seem lacking and purposeless?
Is it on hold until you are one of the above?

I have been blessed to speak with many wonderful single people, many I am privileged to call friend.
These individuals are from a range of ages, walks of life and genders.
Each with their story,
We have prayed, hoped and dreamt.
We have cried, related to one another's pain of unfulfilled dreams and disappointments.
Equally we have lived fully as we organised & planned outings, attended events, travelled, volunteered our time and skills to help others, tried new foods, spoken in depth about issues, interests & hobbies we are passionate about. 
 
I have seen so many of them overcome obstacles, on their own, without the support of a partner. 
I have admired their determination, ambition and success in career and personal hobbies/sports.
They are the ones who inspire and challenge me in a way they will never know.
Watching them create a family composed of friends, church family, work colleges & neighbours. 
Embracing who they are and living in the now, while still holding to hope for the someday.
But I also want to thank those couples who have shown me and others what mature and loving relationships look like.
Who have helped add strength to the waiting for the relationship that builds up, loves freely and helps draw out and encourage the hidden talents and gifts within their spouse. 

Here's the thing.
We can all become victims to anything we don't have, if we allow it to define us & our value.
It can begin to make us feel inferior to others.
Sadly many live in the 'victim' mentality and get caught up in what they don't have.
All the while, living a shadow of who they are, waiting for things to happen.
 (Confession, in the past I have been tempted and lived in that state of mind.. not my finest hour)


Love.
A feeling?
An emotion?
A choice? 

Does 'true love' reside only between two who choose to be together?
In a family?

Love is not found only in these things, titles or roles.
Love is a choice and gift we have the privilege to give each day.
Not just to family or a chosen loved one (although please do so! :)

Love is found in the way we speak to those we encounter each day.
In the kindness we demonstrate towards our co-workers, friends and neighbours.
Love is expressed in the acknowledgement of the person making your coffee, ringing through your shopping, or the homeless sitting in the cold on the street.
Love is demonstrated by giving help to the neighbour who is alone and unable to do all of the things they used to around their home.Love should be celebrated every day.
Every day I should wake up and choose love.
Not just a day designed to manipulate me into buying red heart items, flowers and chocolate to communicate that 'I love you'.
Love is all around us.
For His love empowers and enables us to be both loving and loved even in the absence of particular dreams, individuals or roles.

Lets choose love every day.

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18

I Am No Victim - Bethel Music

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