His.

Valentine's Day.
A day when chocolate and flowers are the perfect match, hugs and kisses are commonly expected, couples show extra affection to each other through printed words on card-stock, and singles wallow in self-pity as another year goes by without someone to make them feel important. This is the day that love is put on the forefront, and shared through words of all kind.

There's a snowstorm tearing through my corner of the world tomorrow, leading churches to cancel their morning worship for the second week in a row. My church is being the minority; the members are passionate about being in this building, and couldn't stand to let weather push us away again. So their solution? Saturday morning service.

As I think up the words for this blog and put together bullet points for it, I'm sitting in the oak sound-booth (also referred to as "The Box" by fellow church attendants) in the back corner of my little church. My dad, my pastor, is speaking on discipleship and sharing your faith.

It's Valentine's Day.

While I sit here listening to my dad preach the word of God, examining all of the red pieces of apparel in front of me, and putting together a 'love' playlist for the end of service, my heart feels as heavy as a brick. Before the service started, a lady from our congregation stopped by my little box to greet me, wish me a Happy Valentine's Day, and ask me about my week. After the typical, "you too," "I've been good," and "thanks," all rung out of my mouth as if they were a routine, the weight of my heart spilled out.

"It bothers me that we're all here for church, and there's so many people making plans to see a movie about false love."

False love.

I don't need to say the movie title that was swirling through my mind for you to know what I'm talking about. It's already taking over your Facebook news feed, Twitter timelines, and Instagram feed. You probably knew that this blog was going to at least mention it before you even got past the first paragraph.

I'm seventeen.
What do I know about love?
How is it right for me to have an opinion on this book/movie franchise when I've never even had a boyfriend?
Why am I even bothering to write this when there's so many other great blogs that explicitly describe why this franchise is so heartbreakingly objectionable?

Respect and Honor.

This morning I put on a cute outfit, painted my face, put mouse in my hair to bring out its curliness, and threw on my everyday jewelry. A normal Sunday morning routine (but on a Saturday). I grabbed a yogurt and some coffee, the church's laptop, slid on boots and a matching jacket, and headed out the door, across the parking lot to the small, white church on the other side. Snow crunched under my feet, a light breeze sent shivers down my spine, and my still-damp hair added the extra chill that reminded me why I so longed for the green grass hidden under the countless feet of white.

After a bitterly cold walk to the cute building, I stepped inside, and found my way to my "box." I made over the cute, love-themed bulletins and took a seat in my spinny chair, before looking down at my hands.

Respect and Honor.

The words were sprawled across the black fabric that was wrapped around my right wrist, waiting for me to notice them.

"This is love."

Those were the words that rushed to my mind at the sight of my bracelet.

Love isn't chocolate and flowers.
Love isn't emotionless words in a card.
Love isn't sporadic hugs and kisses.
Love isn't an erotic, violent story shown through a book or movie.

Love isn't a word or a store-bought item; love is an action that trickles down through the hearts of man to turn eyes upon Love Himself.

Love shows respect and honor, not abuse and dominance; love gives life and joy, not pain and fear. Love began with a Man giving up His life so others could love and be loved. Death for His beloved. Death for you, death for me.

His beloved.

On this Valentine's Day, keep your sights set on the only true Love. In your relationship or in your singleness, Love is waiting with His arms wide open. This Love is free, real, and all you need on this day and every day.

Be His.