BE MINE

I almost didn’t go.

It was 2002. The year of my 30th high school reunion.

I didn’t really have a good reason not to go. It’s just that high school hadn’t been the "best" time of my life. I had friends, yes – but I was far from being one of the popular girls.

And so, I wasn’t sure if there would be anyone to talk to.

But then I found out some of my friends were going to be there – so, why not?

By the time I made this decision, it was only about a month away.

OH DEAR.

Hadn’t gotten "too" chubby – so, OK on that. Well, at least I THOUGHT I was until I went out looking for a new outfit. Nothing fit – or if it did, it made me look worse. So, opted for a short little number in my closet. (OK, I’m claiming it – I’ve still got cute little legs!)

Color the roots. Yeah, got that covered.

No time to get contacts – so, wearing glasses was just going to have to do.

What is it about high school that still does this to us – even 30 years later? Compare, compare, compare – all my insecurities came raging back.

However, at the ripe old age of 48, somehow they didn’t quite matter as much.

Fast forward to the night of the reunion.

I’m having a great time with my friends. And then, across a crowded room…

…I saw him.

The most handsome man I’d ever seen.

I kept surreptitiously glancing at him (translated: subtle, sneaky STARING). After a few minutes, it began to dawn on me that I thought I recognized him – remembered him from the past.

I told my friend to check him out.

"I think I know him," I said.

"Who is it?" she asked.

I told her. She IMMEDIATELY leaped up from her seat and dashed off, while her voice lingered in the air, "I’m going to go find out."

OH NO.

Fortunately, she didn’t say anything to him. She just walked by him about 20 times. No, that’s not obvious AT ALL!

She came back from her recon mission.

"His name tag’s hidden underneath his coat. I think I saw a D and a K for his last name."

That confirmed it. It was the same "boy" I had gone to elementary school with. The same boy who was in my 4th, 5th, AND 6th grade classes with me. The same boy who I had had a GIANT crush on back then…

He was surrounded by women.

You know, I had a little internal wrestling match with myself. Should I go talk to him, should I not? I was nervous…

But then I decided that I was NOT in high school anymore – I was a fully-grown, 48-year-old woman, and I could do this.

So, I made my way across that crowded room.

I regressed quickly, and by the time I reached him, I barely squeaked out (in my 4th grade voice, mind you), "Hi, you probably don’t remember me, but I went to elementary school with you. I’m Sharon…"

And then I stared at my shoes.

Well, something must have made an impression on him. We talked for quite awhile that night. He said he wanted to see me again. (I think it was the cute little legs…)

Fast forward one year later…

The same night that the reunion had been on, the same place – a lovely meal, holding hands, a quiet walk…

And, a four-page letter – a stunning, and unexpected proposal!

I said, "YES!" – and almost eight years later, we are very happily married, and still very much in love.

It’s a wonderful thing when someone says, "Be mine!"

"The Hub" is a wonderful sweetheart. He is the perfect Valentine.

But my heart also beats for another.

I am shamelessly in love with Jesus. The One who came to earth to rescue me. The Lover of my Soul. My Knight in Shining Armor – who rode into my world in a manger, and died for me on a cross. He is the Perfect Hero…

And one day, so very many years ago, He said to my heart, "Be Mine!"

I said, "YES!" – and almost 54 years later, I love Him more than ever.

Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to remember the One who loves you more than anyone else does. He is the One who loves you more than you do yourself.

Won’t you rush into His arms today, and tell Him how much you love Him back!

"I have called you by name; you are mine…you are precious to me…and I love you." (From Isaiah 43)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"