I love Valentine's Day. I love everything about it. The flowers, the chocolates, the food, and the presents would make any woman swoon. And you would think they are the reason for my excitement but you would be wrong.
I was 15 and got dumped on Valentine's Day! It was terrible and it started my lengthy hatred for this sweetest of holidays. Every year after for the next 5 years I wholeheartedly loathed Valentine's Day and tried to ignore it and all the annoying couples celebrating it.
I met David on September 10th of my junior year in college. I was hurt and jaded from a bad breakup with my boyfriend of 2 years. He had cheated on me the month before I met David. I was not looking for a relationship. Funny the things that stay with you. I remember what David was wearing when we met. I remember his passion for God and talking to him for hours. I remember dancing with him. I remember how good looking I thought he was to spite his dorky hat and flip flops that were waaaay too big. I remember how much I liked his truck. I remember how when I introduced myself he already knew who I was and how creepy I thought that was.
You see he had known who I was for over a year. He was roomates with a friend of mine and had heard me sing a solo in a Christmas musical. He had asked about me then. Chris promptly informed him that I was very taken. The night we met started so much in my life, and the beauty of it is I remember so much of it. I always prayed that I would know my husband when I met him. I certianly did. We met around 6 that night and did not stop talking till 6 the next morning. We knew this was something special. I was terrified. Our friends were concerned I was rebounding too fast and we put off dating seriously for 5 months. He kept pursuing me slowly and steadily and would not give up to spite my hesitation and fears. Then we felt ready to move forward around the beginning of February. He said he was going to make Valentine's Day very special and it would signify the beginning of our exclusivity.
He said to pack for a weekend in the metroplex. No I didn't need anything dressy, it was to be a relaxed weekend. We would be spending time in his hometown with his family. I woke up on the Friday morning we were supposed to leave to a very early phone call. There was a delivery for me downstairs that I needed to come and sign for. I took my sleepy self to the bottom of the dorms to find a delivery of beautiful tulips waiting for me. There was also an adorable stuffed dog wearing a red sweater with the words "Happy Valentine's Day Desiree" embroidered on it. I was so excited and if that had been all David had done it would have been wonderful. But he was not done, not by a long shot. We drove to Arlington strait to Ranger's stadium. Our first date had been to a Ranger's game that previous September and he wanted to remind me of how much fun we had so we took a tour of the ballpark. It was pouring down rain and I could not have cared less. We saw the locker rooms, the dugouts, the field, and kissed in the seats. He bought me a tee-shirt to remind me of the day. I was having so much fun and when I asked if we were going back to Mansfield he said it would be a while.
He then proceded to tell me how we were going to this amazing restaurant that night and since he had made sure I had nothing dressy to wear he was going to take me shopping! He bought me a beautiful black and white dress, sparkly shoes that I have to this day as a reminder, a purse, purfume and even jewelry. I was totally overwhelmed! When I asked him why he was doing all of this he said that he was tired of me not knowing how valuable I was and he was determined to show me how much he valued me. He had been saving for this weekend and making plans for it for months. When we went to dinner that night I was walking on air and a very cute pair of heels! We ate at this amazing italian restaurant and the food was incredible. Well, my food was, David ordered shrimp and was served a dish that consisted of 5 small shrimp and nothing more. He tried to play it off and act as though it would fill him up but in the end we laughed about it a lot and went to get him taco bell.
I still have pictures from that night. It was one of the most amazing nights of my life. I had never been treated so lovingly, thoughtfully, or beautifully before. David won my heart that Valentine's night. We were inseperable every day after that and engaged that December. Our next Valentine's he took me out to dinner and recited his proposal to me since I had been so overwhelmed during it that I had not heard a word he had said!
Each Valentine's gets better. Not because of gifts or chocolate but because from that day to this I have never wondered if I was loved and cherished. David has shown me a million times in a million ways that I am his beloved. To be loved so beautifully and thoroughly is such a rare gift and I am well aware of what a blessing it is. The pain of previous boyfriends and a very difficult relationship with my father all led to my complete misunderstanding of what love should look like. I had no concept of God's love and David told me that he saw it as his job to show me through our relationship how Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. It took a long time for me to trust my David fully. Each day is a step in my walk with God to see him as a loving father who wants the best for me and will never seek to hurt me. I would never have gotten to this place without my husband and his overwhelming passion and love for God and for me.
So each year we celebrate our love and the gift we have in each other. I am so grateful that he sought me, pursued me, loved me, cherished me, strengthened me, encouraged me, challenged me, served me, led me and continues to do so to this day. Because of my groom I see what the ultimate groom looks like and he is beautiful.
Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!
No comments:
Post a Comment