The snow and cold had kept the schools closed on Valentine’s Day but the Wednesday evening Youth activities went on. There were less kids than usual but still a decent crowd. As the evening was winding down, Ryan excused the guys in the group and asked the girls to stay for a few minutes. They gathered around interested in what he would say. He told them how much God loves them and how valued they are by him. He suggested that teenaged girls take Valentine’s Day too seriously; take boy-girl relationships too seriously and that they need to be careful about that. He explained that boys often aren't ready for that kind of dedication yet.

He told them never to lose their own identity in a relationship. He reminded them not to lose focus on the One that really loves them and will never abandon them. He said a lot more, too, but basically he reminded them that having a boyfriend right now isn’t as important as they might be feeling that it is and not nearly as important as having a relationship with God. It was a beautiful thing that they needed to hear (often). Many girls practically worship a boy when they are going out and that scares the heck out of the boys. Boys just want to have fun.

Beau had a friend-girl that pursued him so long and hard that I referred to her (unkindly) as “the Stalker”. He eventually relented and went out with her although it didn’t last. He was not ready for a serious relationship and enjoys flirting too much. He broke up with her when she asked him what she could do to make herself more like the girls he flirted with, that she would change herself for him. Totally freaked him out! He was 15... he just wanted to hang out.

Anyway, Ryan ended his little session by bringing in a large vase filled with roses. They squealed with delight. He let each girl take a set of 2, one real and one artificial, tied together with a ribbon. He told them that they symbolized, together, the real and true love that God can offer them and also the eternal, unwavering, undying love that he has for them. It was a good message.