A Valentine’s Day Haiku
Happy St. Valentine’s Day! Oh, you didn’t know this day was named for a real guy who existed in 3rd-century Rome. Read more at the Británica website to find out about this patron saint of lovers, people with epilepsy, and beekeepers.
Our local Christian writers group meets monthly to equip and encourage our members to keep writing for The Lord. This month, our meeting fell right on Valentine’s Day, so we decided to celebrate with yummy treats and a fun writing exercise. We taped our homemade conversation hearts to the white board and challenged members to use as many of the words as possible. We had a nice variety of stories, poetry, and even a wonderful devotion. I love what people can do with the gift of creativity God has given us. Me, I chose haiku, so here’s my use of the 18 given words…
What's the greatest love?
What example does it set?
Where do we find it?
Love could be candy.
Wrapped in a chocolate hug,
With a rose on top.
I got one of those.
From my sweetheart; my husband,
But it was cookies.
Instead of a rose,
It was a red carnation.
It brought me such joy.
His love touched my heart,
Even without poetry,
He showed affection.
And I adore him.
My admiration of him,
Will last forever.
That and three more days,
Because his love is a gift,
Always mine to keep.
Our first time to speak,
Was a February call,
From a long distance.
Only recently,
Did he show his devotion,
With some jewelry.
A red garnet ring,
That I love to wear daily.
And show to others,
But I don't need it,
Or even some fancy doves,
To know he loves me.
Now it’s your turn. If you are a writer, I challenge you to create your own creative piece using the 18 given words in the above image. And, if you put them on your own blog or social media page, please leave a comment and let me know where to go read it. In the meantime, maybe I’ll work on the blog I set up years ago for the group and try to get some of their pieces shared on it. I’ll update this post with a link when I get some new content there.
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When God Plans a Meet Cute
We can’t see the picture God is working on above because our view is only of all the messy strings below. Corrie Ten Boom often spoke this thought from a beautiful poem written by Grant Colfax Tuller (1869-1950). I’ll add the poem, called The Weaver, at the end. But for now, I want to tell you about one of my strings and why I celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 12th every year.
In the winter of 1990, the photography studio I traveled with had me in Wisconsin during an arctic cold I’ll never forget. 30+ below zero with wind chills that brought that down to 80 below. Yikes! When I got back to Arizona for Christmas, I was ready to quit the road job and stay where it was much warmer. Alas, they called me at the end of January and said they needed an emergency rep on a red eye to Massachusetts because two other proof consultants had walked off the job. So, with no sleep, I headed to Las Vegas to grab a flight. I didn’t know I was flying to a destiny far different than what I had envisioned for my life.
I was alone at first, but then Linda arrived. We clicked right away and each saw the Spirit of God in the other. Within hours, she told me about a Christian man she knew who was 34 years old and had never been married. Her words: You two would be perfect for each other.
On February 12th, she called him from her room and then put me on the phone with him. We ended up talking for 2 hours, and he grabbed my heart by saying, “I’ll be honest. I’m looking for a serious relationship. But if that doesn’t happen between us, I want to stay friends because I already like you a lot.” Was that the bait or the hook? Lol! 🪝
I was living in the clouds for the next two days excited about when we would talk again. This time, I called him from my room, and it was an even longer conversation. But it started out with my telling him Happy Valentine’s Day since it was the 14th. His response was the reel that wound me into his life for 35+ years now. He said, “No, MY Valentine’s Day was two days ago.” Hook set, no wiggling off of that line for me.
So, today was our 36th Valentine’s Day on February 12th. My Kentuckiana life with my Kentucky soldier husband has been filled with real life moments that have included both blessings and trials, but the overall story has been blessings. But I’m jumping ahead, so I’ll say goodnight from here, and I hope some readers are inspired or encouraged by our meet cute from long ago. 💞
And here’s that poem I promised…
The Weaver (aka The Tapestry Poem or Life is But a Weaving)
My life is but a weaving
Between my God and me.
I cannot choose the colors
He weaveth steadily.
Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I the underside.
Not ’til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Will God unroll the canvas
And reveal the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful
In the weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.
He knows, He loves, He cares;
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives the very best to those
Who leave the choice to Him."
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