It’s hearts as far as the eye can see this time of year. Retailers have their shops stocked with chocolates, flowers, stuffed bears and greeting cards with sentiments that are sweet, mushy and even humorous – meant to be exchanged with your significant other on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14.
The world is a couples’ paradise it seems, and that is why this time of year can be challenging for anyone who is unmarried, widowed or not in a relationship.
I would like to say we live in a world that promotes God’s view of marriage, waiting until we meet the person He has selected for us from all time, remaining chaste and practicing self-control until, with His blessing, we join in holy matrimony with the one He has given to us to cherish.
Unfortunately, though, we live in a world that promotes promiscuity, celebrates vulgarity and neglects the dignity of every human person created by God for Him – to know, love and serve Him.
For the past 11 years I have had the opportunity to practice chastity, living a single life, remaining celibate in what some would say are prime years of my life.
No, I am not a nun. I don’t live in a convent or behind cloister walls. I live in the world, with all that entails.
Yes, I had a normal childhood with crushes on boys, boyfriends in high school and college, a brief engagement, another engagement and then a 17-year marriage which ended in separation and divorce.
I raised my son as a single mother for the better part of his 19 years, with periods of unemployment resulting in many moves and years of financial instability.
So I know what it is like to love and to suffer heartbreak and loneliness.
All the years of drama, when I followed my own will and not God’s will for my life, have taught me that true love, true peace, resides in Him.
He has healed my broken heart, bound up my wounds and restored what I had carelessly given away when I foolishly followed what the world proclaimed to be love.
He sends little love letters via people He puts into my life, bringing me a message of hope. He sends me hugs from heaven with X’s in the Carolina-blue sky and a perfectly-timed song on the radio.
I feel His warm embrace at Mass when I am surrounded by my Church family.
And I see Him when I sit with Him in Adoration, just gazing at Him with a silly grin on my face.
After all these years – 52 of them – I have been blessed with the gift of wisdom.
I now know that Jesus is my valentine.
SueAnn Howell is the senior reporter for the Catholic News Herald.