My Valentine

I'm fully aware that Valentine's Day is a concocted holiday, an opportunity for the greeting card industry, florists and restaurants all over the nation to cash in. I know all this and still, I'm a sap for it! The romantic in me responds to any chance to express myself to those who are close to me.

None are closer than my Valentine, Kelly.

I remember the very first time I saw her. I had just moved to Orlando Florida with Wendy's (yes,.... the hamburger joint) and they had placed me in a store at the corner of Orange Blossom Trail and Colonial Drive. I was being introduced to the crew and as we came around the corner from the back of the store and onto the front line, Kelly was standing by the cash register. When I was introduced to Kelly, I heard the boss (whose name I don't remember) say, "And this is our Kelly." I looked at her and she blushed! I remember thinking, "She's really cute and she blushed when she met me." At this point, I was not a stranger to dating but this blush caught me off-guard. I was excited about meeting this girl!

Later in the afternoon, I was sitting out in the dining room as they gave me the keys and finished all the paperwork on the store. Kelly was standing on a chair and cleaning the Tiffany style lamps in the dining room. Every time I looked over, she was looking my way and would blush again when she saw that I saw her.

Oops! Big trouble, my supervisor told me she was only 17! I was 25! Later in the day, I found out she was very soon going to be 18......so I waited. Sometime shortly after her 18th birthday (I got her a card), I took her to IHOP for a coffee and Coke after work one night. We had a great time and shared our first kiss in the parking lot at IHOP, standing next to her car. I was hooked!

I told her she would have to quit Wendy's which she did right away and we started dating.

Initially and understandably, I wasn't very popular at Kelly's house. Eventually, we all became friends and a few years later, I was offered a job in Washington, D.C. I couldn't bear the thought of leaving Kelly behind but I wasn't sure I was ready to get married. So, I asked her "go to Washington with me". Now, keep in mind I was not yet saved.

Kelly was.

She said, "You mean you're asking me to marry you?" I was too stunned to answer and I hesitated. She saw this right away and then said, "It's the only way I could ever go with you. I won't live in an improper relationship."

I had to think fast because I knew if I didn't, she would turn me down. I knew I loved her, but I was still recovering from old wounds. Ultimately I realized, there really wasn't any decision to make. I knew she was firm in her conviction. My love for her and my desire to be with her was too great. It made me blurt out, "Yes, I want you to marry me!"

That was 28 years ago. There's been a lot of water under the bridge since then. It wasn't easy learning how to communicate with each other, learning how to live with each other. We had some pretty rough spots.

I came to the Lord two years or so after we got married in 1980. God began to bless us in our relationship and our jobs. God's presence never precluded the rough spots but it always gave us hope to endure them.

Then we discovered something.

We found that our dedication to each other was great but The Scriptures told us our dedication to God should be greater. We decided to make our committment to him our highest goal above everyting else.

Tis revolutionized our marriage! It unlocked the windows of heaven and His blessings began to pour out upon our relationship! We drew closer together as we drew closer to Him! It brought new meaning and depth to our marriage.....and new excitement as well.

We still have our bumps, from time to time. But they get fewer and further between as we surrender ourselves more and more to Him. She's still my Valentine and the love of my earthly life. God has blessed us mightily and I still feel the thrill of that moment in Wendy's when I saw her blush for the first time. Yet, Our relationship with God has brought richness and depth we never imagined.

Now, as we face the Autumn of our lives together, the excitement is still there but there is also the confidence that God has promised us eternity together with Him. What a beautiful gift to receive.....on Valentine's Day.