My First Valentine

Yesterday, I realized, marked the fifth February 14th that Micah has been my Valentine. And he makes a very good one, too! Last night, he brought me beautiful pink roses that we admired as we ate our candlelight dinner together. We shared such a nice, warm and relaxing evening. I'm very thankful to lay claim to Micah's heart.

But Micah wasn't my first Valentine: There was a very special man in my life before him. This man held the first place in my heart for a very long time...nineteen years, in fact. He brought me flowers and candy every Valentines Day, and now and then (all the more special because of the rarity of his writing) he wrote me little love notes. Even more important than those yearly gestures, he demonstrated his love for me everyday of my life with his hugs, time and attention.

I remember, on Valentines Day in 2001, he told me: "Honey, I think this is going to be the last year that I will be your Valentine. Next year you'll have someone new." I was surprised. I could see no one else on the horizon who might want to apply for that role. "How do you know that?" I asked. "I just think so," he said. "You wait and see."

His prediction came true. By the next year, I was receiving roses and a card from Micah, a young man with whom I had discovered a fresh, new love.

"I told you so!" said the man who had held my heart for so many years. I was excited, but also a bit sad. I didn't want my First Valentine to think that I loved him any less, and tried to assure him of my commitment. He smiled. "I always knew you would find someone who you loved even more than you love me...but that's OK. That's the way it's supposed to be."

A couple more years passed, and the day came when my First Valentine was readying to walk me down an aisle in our church and officially "give me away" to my new love. Again, I very excited, but also felt a bit like crying (which I did. I couldn't help it!) I was taking a step from which there was no return. I couldn't wait! And yet...never again could I belong to my First Valentine.

Sometimes old love, tried and true, must make way for new love. But that doesn't mean--in every case--that the old love must end! Maybe I don't belong to my wonderful father anymore, but I still love him very much! He still has a part of my heart that can't be filled by any other. And that's why I just wanted to take a minute to be thankful for the love that my First Valentine brought--and continues to bring--into my life.