Yes, i'm single. And yes, I celebrate Valentine's Day. //

Ever since I could remember I’ve always loved Valentine’s Day.

Every year on Valentine’s Day my parents would usually give each one of us kids a small box of chocolate and a holy card image of Jesus’ Sacred Heart. It always put valentines in the right perspective for me as a child. I knew that love was something so beautiful and needed. My parents showed us kids that Christ’s love is the only true love.

As I got older, I think it was around 6th grade, when I started really anticipating Valentine’s Day. Why? Maybe because it was the first time I had a huge crush on a guy. I still remember the feeling, the butterflies in my stomach when I saw him… Of course this boy didn’t know I existed… (surprise, surprise). But I would close my eyes and imagine that he was my valentine and I was his. Gross I know, right? Anyway, needless to say I didn’t receive any Valentine’s that year from any boys, except the ones from my daddy and little brothers.

Every year I found myself somewhat disappointed in my Valentine’s Day. I’ve never had a boyfriend or any guy in a position to be my Valentine. But I guess I always thought well maybe this Valentine’s Day will be different. Maybe i’ll have a secret admirer, or a boyfriend (yeah right), etc…  

It wasn’t until a couple of weeks ago when I finally realized that I didn’t need to spend another year hoping Prince Charming will come barging into my life on February 13th in time to invite me out for Valentine’s Day.

No, I’ve come to know that I’m currently and completely satisfied with glorifying God by just being happy with the present moment.

That doesn’t mean this Valentines day will come and I will have no desire for love or romance. Wanting love is good. God made us for love. God placed romantic love on the hearts of all men. The world tells us that love is found in materialism and false imitations of love, like infatuation and pleasing the passions. What the world offers you is flawed. The world says “one night stands and the casual hookups are great and totally okay” when it only hurts you and denies you the love you deserve.

Everyone is on a constant search for love but find it in all the wrong places: whether it’s in sex, money, or drugs. But without God, the very existence of Love, the very reason we are living, there is no true happiness. He is the only true happiness and true love we will come to know in our life.

That’s why this Valentine’s Day I choose to celebrate it, truly celebrate it, to celebrate instead of moping around eating all my Trader Joe’s ice cream and watching corny Hallmark Valentine’s movies.

I will not use Valentine’s Day to fall into the sin of envy or jealousy.
I refuse to get angry or question God’s timing in my life. Except I will place it all at the foot of the cross. And completely surrender everything to Him.

Jesus wants to be your Valentine. Make Him your Valentine. He so badly wants to be the center of your life. I challenge everyone, ladies and gentlemen this Valentine’s Day, to spend it with Him — go to Mass or adoration. At least just spend some time reading Scripture, the Psalms, or Songs of Solomon.

I now challenge you guys to one more thing. Whether you’re single or in a relationship. To join me and pray this novena (nine days of prayer) to St. Raphael the patron saint of finding your future spouse. To find why St. Raphael is the patron saint of finding your future spouse click here.

We have to work on becoming the women of God, or the men of God, that He has created you to be! And God will place that special person in your life when it’s meant to happen.

A couple years ago I asked God for the Grace to be content with whatever His will was for me. And to help me never settle for anything less than what I deserve. That prayer has really come through for me and made me content and peaceful with His will. ‘Cause let’s be real… being single is a precious and important time of our lives.

God has given us this time to find out who we are. Don’t waste it on something artificial. Take this time to know your true and eternal Valentine, Jesus.

*photo does not belong to me. Couldn't find source.*