Music Monday from Nikki

In place of my normal Monday Meditation, today I am so very pleased to have Nikki from Simply Striving here to share her beautiful heart. She does a regular post on Mondays called Music Monday and I asked her if she would be willing to do that here. She graciously accepted, and I am glad for you to meet her today.

photo credit: Nefi

I retreat up the stairs to my favorite quiet place, anxious to put my pen to page. What I will write is still unknown, but the anticipation is enough to fuel my excitement.

I’m not sure how long it’s been since I began this tradition. One thing I do know–it has revolutionized my view of the holiday upon us:

Valentines Day.

This used to be my least favorite holiday as I was certain it was a conspiracy of consumerism. An urge to spend money after the real holidays were over. And what better excuse was there but for love?

While talking this over with a co-worker one day, she glossed over words that stuck to me like leeches.

“Well, if you can’t change it, embrace it. Celebrate it your own way.”

One day I hope to tell her how much her comment moved me. How much it has changed my relationship with the One I choose to celebrate this day.

I flip through my journal now, reminiscent of the valentines I’ve penned in years past. And I smile wide when I find one. The indentations from words spilled on covering pages seem to add to its charm. Love fills my chest as I trace over each letter of every word.

Now I close my eyes, waiting for words to travel to my fingers as I breathe in deep, clearing the path to my heart. I pray the words I pen will hold fast. That I live out every one. So when the time comes, I can unabashedly share these face-to-face.

These love letters to my Savior. My Eternal Valentine.

My pen starts flowing in steady, smooth strokes. It isn’t until I’m finished that I realize I’ve held my breath, waiting for this masterpiece to be done. And there it is. Four simple words that don’t mean much on their own, but seem to mean everything in this valentine:

You Can Have Me.

Doubt starts to intrude as I wonder if this is enough. If this shows enough passion. And as I’m staring at the words I’ve written, the song by the same name comes to mind:

You Can Have Me ~by Sidewalk Prophets

My thoughts linger long on the lyrics penned in this valentine song.

♪♫ If I saw You on the street And You said come and follow me But I had to give up everything All I once held dear and all of my dreams

Would I love You enough to let go Or would my love run dry When You asked for my life

When did love become unmoving? When did love become unconsuming? Forgetting what the world has told me Father of love, You can have me

You can have me

If You’re all You claim to be Then I’m not losing anything So I will crawl upon my knees Just to know the joy of suffering

I will love You enough to let go Lord, I give you my life I give you my life

You can have me

I want to be where You are I’m running into Your arms And I will never look back So Jesus, here is my heart

You can have me My Father, my love You can have me ♪♫

I close my journal leaving it just as it is. Yes, this valentine might be my best one yet. . .

How about you? Do you make a valentine for your Savior? If not, will you give it a try this year?

Thanks for sharing your time with me. And thank you, Lisa, for allowing me to share my valentine song.

Simply striving,

Nikki

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