I remember the first time I experienced proclamations of love from someone who didn't fall into the relative category. It was my 3rd grade class Valentine's party. I have fond memories of the decorated shoebox filled to the brim with candy and valentines from classmates. I could hardly wait to open them up when I got home. Somehow, reading the messages on the valentines was more thrilling than eating the candy (probably a girl thing...) Most of them contained the standard valentine clichés with a simple signature, until I pulled out a valentine from Gary, a quiet and some-what distant boy in my class. I could hardly believe my eyes as I looked at this homemade valentine. He must have spent hours cutting and pasting this masterpiece together. Inside was a poem that said something to the effect of, "Roses are red, violets are blue..." I don't really remember how he ended this 'original' sonnet, but I do remember how he signed it. It simply said, "I'm in love with you---Love, Gary." Wow, someone was in love with me. I had never spoken two words to this boy, yet somehow, he was in love with me. Of course, we never spoke about it and the next day we were back to the business of being 3rd graders, more concerned with breaking through the Red Rover chain at recess.

I wouldn't feel that familiar flutter in my heart again, until 5th grade, when a boy in my class would slip me a note declaring his love and asking me to go steady with him. It simply said, "I love you. Will you go with me? Circle Yes or No." Of course, I circled yes, and my heart skipped a beat as I passed the note back to him. For the rest of the year, we would hardly speak, but it didn't matter-someone loved me.

As the years progressed, I experienced many other episodes that would cause my heart to flutter and beat peacefully for a time, with a quiet assurance that I was loved. Unfortunately, as I progressed in this game called love, I also experienced episodes that left my heart broken and somewhat battered. By the time I got to college, the casualties were high. This love business was not all it was cracked up to be. Now, there were expectations and strings attached to the price of love. Would I ever find my one, perfect love?

During my junior year of college, someone invited me to an event for college students, sponsored by a local church. I was not into church, or even God for that matter, so I was stunned when I found myself accepting the invitation. To the world, I appeared to have it all, yet inside my heart was empty and longing for a brand of love that was lasting and permanent. Maybe I would meet the perfect man at a church event. It had to beat the fraternity guys I was accustomed to going out with! During the evening service of the event, someone gave an account of his own journey to find lasting love. This guy shared how God had sent His Son, Jesus Christ to prove His love and bring us into a close relationship with Him. He spoke of God as a loving Father, who cared deeply for His children. He talked of the forgiveness for sin that God had offered with the death of His Son. As he shared his own discovery of perfect love from God, I wrestled within my heart. Could this be true? I had known many Christians throughout my years, yet they had failed to explain, much less mention this brand of love to me. In fact, most of them were on the same journey I was, longing to satisfy their hearts with manmade love. That evening I determined that I would give this alleged perfect love a try. I committed to pursue a relationship with God, through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Fifteen years later, I reflect back on that day in 1985 as the single most important day of my life. Over time, my heart began to fill with the calm peace I had always longed for. My heart skips a beat when I ponder on the fact that He's in love with me. Just like that homemade valentine in the 3rd grade, I can hold the Bible close to my heart as God's permanent valentine to me---a constant reminder that I am His and He is mine. At that event in 1985, I finally met the Perfect Man. I finally discovered perfect love.

In my journey to build a relationship with the Creator of the Universe, I have since discovered that the longing within the heart of every human to love and be loved was in fact, placed there by God, Himself. This longing of the human heart was meant to drive us to search for the one Perfect Love, Jesus Christ. No doubt, man can gain pleasure from loving others and being loved by others, but nothing will match the unfailing love of God...absolutely nothing.

Written by: Vicki Courtney © 2000 virtuousreality.com

Vicki Courtney is a national speaker and author. She has written a recently published Bible study resource for women called, The Virtuous Woman...Shattering the Superwoman Myth and a Bible study resource for college women called, Virtuous Reality...Becoming the Ideal Woman. (Available at Lifeway Christian Stores; LifeWayStores.com) She is also the Founder of CrossRoad Women's Ministry.