St. Valentine's Day
        2001

Now I remember when I was in School,
 How all of the students who were cool
Waited with longing for a special day
 So they could strut around and say,
"I got more Valentines than you got
 Because I am pretty and you are not"
Or their Mommies bought a box with many a card.
 The heart shaped candies were so very hard.

While students walked around the room,
 Over my head was a cloud of gloom.
I would lay my head down so full of fears
 And tried to hide some bitter tears,
And when I looked up one card I rated
 From the girl that the whole class hated!
It seemed, to me, better (as I recall)
  To really get no card at all.

But now those years seem far away
 As we approach St Valentine's Day.
And it matters little if others get more
 Valentines from the local store

For I have found as you may have found
 Those greeting cards may seem to abound
But they can not equal the one I read.
 Let me tell you what it said,
"I have given to you this heart of mine.
 I want you to be my Valentine
I think of you both night and day,
 I love you now and will always.

"I will not reject you like some folk do.
 I will love you your whole life through,
To show you just how much I care for you
 I stretched out my arms (as children do)
And soldiers nailed them to some wooden pieces
 So that as the pain they caused increases
Until I died one dreadful, awful day
 Just to take your sins away!

"I have prepared a place for you to live
 I only ask that you would give
To me your heart as a sign
 That you will be My Valentine   Love, God"

Feb. 5, 2001