in the meantime

Valentine's Day is just one of those days of the year where you notice that everyone including the birds are paired in two's. That somehow you are there feeling kind of odd as you're trying your best to not feel bad when the people at potluck are asking about your plans for the evening. But, today God revealed to me the most beautiful thing.

After church Bekah, Lorrie, and I headed over to Patten to do a bible study with Sally. Somehow whenever I go to Patten it just makes my heart smile. I love seeing every one as we walk in, and I wish constantly that I had time to sit and talk with each one of them. The man at the desk wished us a Happy Valentine's Day as we bonded over our singleness and proceeded to go up to the 11th floor.

Our bible studies with Sally have been kind of up and down for us, mostly because we don't know how much she is getting out of the study. Now, I am no expert on Revelation. Honestly, that book is so foreign to me that I dare not try to explain it unless I got the commentary next to me the whole time. But, Sally asked us if we could study it with her since she's tried to read it and doesn't understand. In my mind I welcomed her to the club, but I knew that the Holy Spirit will use willing vessels. So, with my lack of knowledge I tried to be confident in faith knowing that God will help her hear what needs to be heard and that my limited knowledge will be enhanced somehow.

This week we were on Revelation chapter 5 about the scroll and the lamb. As we were reading and explaining things, I was so full of joy. We were talking about Jesus and how He was the lamb that was slain for our sins and by His blood we are saved. Then Sally commented, "He's done so much for us. All the pain and suffering...I couldn't do it." As I sat on her bed in her smoke filled room I wanted to cry. This is real love. That Christ died for me to save me from this body of death. Sally understood and so did I.

As we left her room and went down to the lobby we met up with a familiar face that I haven't seen in a while. Meryl greeted us with hugs and wanted us to come up to his room. We talked with him for a while about life and such. He would casually mention how lonely it is sometimes without people coming by to visit. We told him we would stop by next week to see him again. After about twenty minutes we left his room and made our way back to the elevators. One of Meryl's neighbors saw the bible I was holding in my hand and asked me to read a verse. I started frantically looking for a verse as papers were spilling out of my bible. Then I knew exactly what I needed to share, I turned to Romans 5: 6-8 and started to read. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners Christ died for us." I concluded. Meryl turned and said, "That is so true." as his neighbor asked me what verse I read.

Love isn't meant to be taken, but given. Sure maybe sometimes I want to feel special, but nothing made me feel more whole than sharing the love I have for my Savior with my friends at Patten. So let the birds fly in their pairs, and the girls get their roses. But, God has given me so much more today as I remember what love really means.