Sweet Everythings

Valentine’s Day has arrived. I realize that while it has its roots in something real, the holiday we celebrate is certainly commercialized and marketed to the masses. I am one of those in the masses. I enjoy Valentine’s Day because it gives me a reason to celebrate my relationship with Bill for no other reason than Hallmark says we can, and should. Sometimes we need reasons to celebrate things in life, even if they’re weak and somewhat ridiculous. I think of Valentine’s Day as one of these “reasons” to celebrate.

As I was considering this “holiday”, and making plans to celebrate with Bill (of which I will not go into detail, for your sake and mine), I received several emails and a phone call from friends, and all of their messages were filled with heartbreak. The sharp contrast of my Valentine’s Day celebration plans and these stories of longing and pain and sadness was harsh. I sat down and considered each in and of itself, trying to absorb and process the information in a way that would be helpful to both them and me.

I must admit that my first inclination was to try to find words to express my sadness in relation to the events told by each woman, somehow offering condolences that would ease the pain of the situations. Why is my default response to try and fix things? I stopped and prayed instead. As I was praying for one of the women, I heard myself pray “God draw her close and whisper sweet nothings in her ear.” And immediately I thought, “That’s not what I want at all, and I don’t think it’s what God wants to do.” I changed my prayer to ask Him to whisper “sweet everythings” instead. I realize I made it up, the phrase “sweet everythings”, but I think it works.

When I think of someone whispering sweet nothings, I think of a lover leaning close to his love, his head turned just so in a way that his lips come close, almost brushing her ear, whispering what he thinks will sweep her off her feet and into his arms. They’re words meant to move her in a direction he wants her to go for his own gratification. My idea of this phrase might be all wrong, but it is the connotation I derive from it. That’s not what I was asking for on behalf of this woman, and I don’t believe for one moment God ever speaks sweet nothings.

No, God is a god of sweet everythings. Sweet everythings also move us in a direction the whisperer wants us to go, but not for self-seeking purposes. They’re all the things we need to hear to get us through, to draw us close, to help us remember we are loved and seen by the God of our hearts, and heartaches. They are used to build us up, turn us back, let us fall weeping into the arms of the One who sustains and maintains and even rebuilds that which is broken. He wants to whisper all the ways He loves us, all the ways He wants to bring peace and salvation to a dying world, not solely for His own gratification but for ours as well. He pours out his love with the plan of moving us back to where we belong, with Him. To feel the warmth of His breath on our necks, the sweet aroma of His fragrance in our nostrils, His words penetrating our ears and burrowing deep into our souls; that is true romance. A love and a lover who can deliver on every promise He makes - something to celebrate indeed.

Valentine's Day is here.  I encourage you to go celebrate the love in your life, and as your lover whispers sweet nothings in your ear, remember there’s One who wants to whisper sweet everythings to you as well. Listen for them and let yourself be swept back into the arms that hold it all together, and make it good again.