God's Special People
- Feb 14
- 3 min read
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but shall have everlasting life."
~ John 3:16
I lived with my parents while working on my undergraduate degree. When I moved into my own apartment after I finished college, it was the first time I was without my parents for more than ten days and I quickly became terribly homesick. It was January. The joy of Christmas was over and I had no friends in the city. My parents were 45 minutes away. My brother and sister lived about 20 minutes from me and my brother invited me to attend Mass with his family, which I did. But I was still terribly lonely.
The following month, as the world prepared to celebrate Valentine's Day, I felt even more alone. I know friends can celebrate the day together; however, my friends were back home, not nearby. The mail came early and I looked through the local free paper. Very small, at the bottom of one page, was a personal ad, "TO ALL GOD'S SPECIAL PEOPLE," followed by John 3:16 and a wish for a Happy Valentine's Day from the staff at the paper. I felt it was God speaking directly to me. It would be a couple years more until I would take my vows in the Order of Consecrated Virgins, but I had been happily engaged to Jesus for eight years. He was wishing me a Happy Valentine's Day...my sweet valentine.
Jesus and I have been married for close to 18 years and oh yes, he's still the one! The homesickness got better and I spent future Valentine's Days with different people in my life. Some years, my sister, others, friends. In more recent years, I lived with my parents to help out as Dad's dementia worsened, and we celebrated every Valentine's Day together. Since I love to cook, I would make a special dinner and we would exchange small tokens of our affection for one another. This year, it's just me and Mom, as Dad died in August. Both Mom and I thought it wouldn't be a big deal - the holiday was never super important to us. We showed our love for each other every day. Valentine's Day wasn't that special.
The night before the holiday, Mom and I both started to feel the weight of missing Dad for Valentine's Day. Everyone says all the "firsts" are the hardest...all the first holidays, birthdays, and other milestones without your loved one who has died. I sure hope that's true. I've heard that some folks feel it harder the second year. Some say it never gets easier. I have no way of knowing how next Valentine's Day will be for either of us, but I know for sure my valentine will be the same, and he will help me through missing my father. Jesus will be with me through everything life brings my way.
Happy Valentine's Day to you, dear friend. May God's love brighten your day and fill you with hope for tomorrow!
God, thank you for loving me to the point of giving me the gift of eternal life through your only son, Jesus!
I love you, Lord! Amen.
