Chick-Flick therapy!

February, this is the month of hearts and flowers, chocolate and all things pink and red.  The season when as a little girl I would anxiously anticipate the class party when my makeshift “mailbox” covered in heart-shaped doilies would be filled with colorful cartoon inspired messages of friendship and even, dare I say . . . love.  As I grew older my anticipation of Valentine’s Day remained yet it morphed into both a positive/negative affair.  I loved the idea of catching someone’s eye and receiving some small token of affection, however those moments were usually fleeting or non-existent and so by the time February 15^th rolled around I was usually left somewhat disappointed and empty feeling.  This sentiment was typically shared with my friends and though it was rarely, if ever, expressed we usually found ways to comfort ourselves with junk food, slumber parties and our favorite chick flicks.  Now, as adults, we pour our energies into making the day special for family and friends, we go a little lighter on the junk food, and slumber parties are a thing of the past, but the appeal of the chick flick remedy is still alive and well.    

There is something about a chick flick that speaks to the deepest desires of our feminine hearts, our desire to be valued, appreciated and loved, our longing to be noticed, protected & even fought for, our craving to know and be known, our yearning for a better reality.    It is also the reason why I love to stroll through the pages of the book of Isaiah.  I have never admitted that to anyone before, but yes, the Biblical book of Isaiah speaks to the same longings of my heart as . . . a girly movie.  In fact, I would even go so far as to say that its’ beautiful words are in fact MUCH better than the best lines uttered from the lips of any burly hero in a chick flick.  Here are some of my favorites:

“Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of my hands.” Isaiah 49:16a (AMP) “Out of sight and out of mind” is not an issue here ladies, our Savior actually tattooed a photo of us on his palm so we are always before him. 

“Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life.  Do not be afraid, for I am with you .” Isaiah 43:4-5a (NIV)   The very God of the universe values me, loves me, will rescue me even at great cost and has promised to always be with me.

And my very favorite, “You whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth.  Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46:3b-4   For my whole life, no matter the crisis he will sustain me, no matter the mess he will rescue me.  Ladies, to me that is even better than the hero that rides up on the white horse to save my day, for this warrior has already saved my life.