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"Lord, You have assigned me my portion and my cup, you have made my lot secure."
Psalm 16:5

It was every girl's dream. I was being held tightly in the arms of one man while fourothers fought and wrestled for me.

Well, that's the romance novel version. What really happened sounds a little different. We took our boys to a snow park in the Sierra a few years ago. My husband Scott was holding me for ransom on the side of a steep, snow-covered hill. He would only release me to the first Mathews Brother who could get to the top of the hill and give me a kiss. The boys growled and yelled. Scott whooped and pushed little maniac boys away with his feet. I laughed and pleaded "Please let me zip my coat!" Jackson, our 7 year old, was finally able to climb up my leg and give me a kiss. It was the most fun I had had in a while--way more fun than sitting at my computer all day or folding piles of laundry.

For some of you, having more than one male vying for your attention might not be out of the ordinary. Or, at least it wasn't, back in the pre-marriage days. But for me, Mother Melissa as I was referred to in high school, the dates were few and far between.

I hear you saying, "ah, poor Melissa." But don't. I take full responsibility for my former plight of lonely, independent weekends babysitting while everyone else was on a date. I didn't want to date anyone I wouldn't marry, and there were very few boys who filled that bill. I also made it very clear to potential suitors that I was very unavailable in other ways too, if you know what I mean. That really kept the boys away. Two older brothers also helped—a boy had to be very brave, very interested, or very stupid to risk having Roger and Reggie after you.

So after school on Wednesday, when 5 boys gave me a Valentine of roses and Richardson's candy, I felt especially blessed. To me, my husband and four boys have never seemed like an accident, but Providence. I think they are a direct blessing from God, a gift to me because of my desire to honor Him during high school.

You might be saying to yourself "Four boys, that's no blessing. That's a nightmare." And for you, four boys might have been just that. But God has given you a gift too, a Valentine. James 1:17 says "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights." Do you know what your gift is? Is it a great job? A wonderful husband? The freedom of being single? A special talent or skill? A best friend?

Take the time this week to appreciate the gift, or gifts, God has so graciously lavished upon you. And if you can't think of any, let me help with this:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

"Inspiration For You" from Randy Mitchell

Keep Your Dreams to Yourself