Dear Soulmate...

If there's anything this world needs more of, it's handwritten paper mail.

Handwritten paper mail and love letters. Or in a perfect world, a combination of the two.

Hearts abounding,
Valentine's Day is near!

It's February now, and with it comes endless pink and red, candy hearts that taste like chalk, and all of the hopelessly adorable and over-the-top romantic gestures we love (or for some, love to hate). Ah yes, the beloved kiss of Valentine's Day is upon us, and some will welcome it with open arms and happy hearts, and others will look at it as another day they are reminded of not having a special someone in their life.

For those people who fall under the latter category, I have two things to say to you. Two things that I hope and pray you really take to heart:

1.) One day, you will have that special someone. It may not be for a while, but the wait will be worth it. Trust me.
2.) Until that day comes, remember that you have someone else who not only wants to fill your heart and your life, but who also wants to save your heart and your life. God wants to be your forever Valentine! God wants to be your true love. Take to heart what is said in 1 John 4:7-12:

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."

Every person who knows love knows God. God is love! Even when we don't feel love toward a special someone, we know love in so many other ways. We know God in so many other ways.

I love love. I wait anxiously for the day when I can look into the eyes of a man I know is my soulmate and say, with no uncertainty in my heart and soul, "I love you." And though I do not know who this man is yet, I have some things I want to say to him...

Dear Soulmate,

Hi. I can't be sure that you're even reading this right now, but in the off chance that you are, I want to begin by saying that I can't wait to meet you. I can't wait to look at you and know that you are the missing piece of my heart God has led me to. I can't wait to start a happy and Christ-filled life with you by my side, supporting my dreams and aspirations just as I do yours. I can't wait to become one flesh with you.

At this point in time, I do not know your name. I do not know how tall you are, what your favorite song is, or whether you dunk or twist your Oreos. There is a lot that I don't know about you. In fact, the things I don't know about you probably outweigh the things I do know about you. But the things that I do know are the things that will tell me that you are the one meant to have my heart.

I know that you are a man whose heart belongs to God and Christ my savior. I know that you strive to live each day according to His word. I know that even when you stumble and fall and don't get things right, you remain strong in your faith and knowledge of the forgiveness Christ won for us on the cross.

I know that you are kind. You are a man whose first instinct is to show love and compassion, not anger and frustration. I know that you are patient, understanding, and supportive. I know that you will always be there to give me comfort and advice on my bad days, and support and encouragement on my good days. You will love me because I am a strong, intelligent, and independent woman, not in spite of it. And when the time comes, all of the love, support, and kindness that you give to me and all others will be given to our children.

I know that you are intelligent. You have a desire to never stop learning, never stop reading, never stop wanting to know. You will be open-minded and accepting to others' opinions that differ from your own, but you will never compromise your morals. I know that you will be open to new experiences and opportunities, no matter what they may entail.

I know that you are fun. You know when to have fun and when to take yourself seriously, a skill that some people may never master. You accept my quirky sense of humor and love me for it, just as I do yours. You know how to laugh. You know how to let go. You know how to appreciate and revel in the small things in life (and you remind me to do the same).

I know that you are not perfect. Sometimes, you'll do things that make me sad or upset. Sometimes, I'll do the same to you. We will fight, we will yell, we will want to spend time away from one another. But at the end of the day, I know you will always welcome me back into your arms. And I will do the same. Being together will be hard at times, but it will be worth it. I know that you value communication and see it as a vital part of our relationship. I know that you understand that our marriage is about being equal: equal partners, equal parents, equal lovers. I know that you will respect me, even when you do not agree with me. I know that even when we fight, you will be secure in knowing that we are meant to be together.

I know the kind of man you are, Soulmate. I just don't know which man you are. I may meet you tomorrow. I may meet you fifty years from now. But I want you to know that no matter when the time comes for us to meet, I waited. I waited to call your heart my heart's home. I waited to commit to you fully in every aspect of love. I waited to place my heart in your hands. I waited for YOU.

But until you come, I am going to keep falling in love with my earthly and heavenly soulmate. I am going to keep building my relationship with my good and gracious God so that one day, when you walk into my life, all of my relationships will be strong and rooted and ready for you. I'm falling in love with God, my family, my friends, and myself so that one day, I can fall truly and deeply in love with you.

So wherever you are, Soulmate, I can't wait to meet you. But I will. I will wait.

All my love,

Desiree

My dear friends, please remember that as the "Day of Love" approaches, you are not alone. You have Christ as your eternally present Valentine, and somewhere on this earth, you have your earthly Valentine waiting for you to walk into their life.

So maybe, to prepare for that day, you may just want to write them a letter.
A love letter.
One day to be sent by paper mail.

"Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God." 1 John 4:7

So much love in this song. So much love.