It was finally here -- Anna's wedding day, the day she had dreamed about and planned for months. The small, picturesque church was crowded with friends and family. Sunlight poured through the stained-glass windows, and the gentle music of a stringed quartet filled the air. Anna walked down the aisle toward David. Joy surged within her. This was the moment for which she had waited so long. He gently took her hand, and they turned toward the altar.

 

But as the minister began to lead Anna and David through their vows, the unthinkable happened. A girl stood up in the middle of the congregation, walked quietly to the altar, and took David’s other hand. Another girl approached and stood next to the first, followed by another. Soon, a chain of six girls stood by him as he repeated his vows to Anna.

 

Anna felt her lip beginning to quiver as tears welled up in her eyes. “Is this some kind of joke?” She whispered to David.

 

“I’m…I’m sorry, Anna,” he said, staring at the floor.

“Who are these girls, David? What is going on?” She gasped.

“They are girls from my past,” he answered sadly. “Anna, they don’t mean anything to me now…but I’ve given part of my heart to each of them.”

“I thought your heart was mine,” she said.

“It is, it is,” he pleaded. “Everything that’s left is yours.”

A tear rolled down Anna’s cheek. Then she woke up.

 

 

Anna told me about her dream in a letter. “When I awoke I felt so betrayed,” she wrote. “But then I was struck with this sickening thought: How many men could line up next to me on my wedding day? How many times have I given my heart away in short-term relationships? Will I have anything left to give my husband?”

 

I often think of Anna’s dream. The jarred image haunts me. There are girls from my past, too. What if they showed up on my wedding day? What could they say in the receiving line?

 

“Hello, Joshua. Those were some pretty lofty promises you made at the altar today. I hope you’re better at keeping promises now than you were when I knew you.”

 

“My, don’t you look nice in that tuxedo. And what a beautiful bride. Does she know about me? Have you told her all the sweet things you used to whisper in MY ear?”

 

There are relationships that I can only look back on with regret. I do my best to forget. I laugh them off as part of the game of love everyone plays. I know God has forgiven me because I’ve asked Him to. I know the various girls have forgiven me because I’ve asked them to.

 

But I still feel the ache of having given away my heart to too many girls in my past.

Excerpt from Joshua Harris's book "I Kissed Dating Goodbye". http://www.joshharris.com/ikdg/summary.htm

 

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I just want to start this off wishing everyone a Happy V-Day. Valentine's day, to me, is one of the best ways to portray God's love by loving a special someone.

 

I do want to warn though to "guard your heart and make wise decisions." Contrary to many people, I've decided to stay single so that someday I can say to my future husband "I've waited my whole life for you. It wasn't easy, it was painful, but I wanted to save my heart so that YOU can have my WHOLE heart."