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Growing up, I used to poke fun at my mom for watching all of the sappy love stories they call “Christmas movies” on the Hallmark Channel. But somewhere between 17 and 21, something changed…and somehow I got hooked, too.

I mean, honestly, take a super handsome 20-something actor, give him a picture-perfect, prince-charming-like role and make him fall in love with an unexpecting yet totally deserving girl (who, in most cases, has recently been mistreated by her idiot boyfriend), and what do you get? You get an overly romantic Jen, sitting on the couch with a tissue in hand, absorbing the on-screen emotion like a sponge as she watches the female lead get what she has always wanted: true love. That’s what.

So maybe the picture I just painted of myself was slightly exaggerated, but I know I’m not the only one moved by a good love story. I’d venture to say all of us girls dream of true love, and even the guys do, too.

And although I have enjoyed watching Matchmaker Santa *twice* this past weekend, I have discovered how easy it is for my focus to shift from where it should be (trusting in God with my life’s story) to where it shouldn’t be (wishing for my “happy ever after” and all those ooey-gooey feelings).

You see, finding “the one” isn’t everything, and “being in love” shouldn’t be our main focus in life. C.S. Lewis has me absolutely convinced of it. I found this quote from his book Mere Christianity late last night on Pinterest, and I couldn’t resist sharing it on here:

So even though the movies tell us that prince charmings and white horses and first kisses and blissful feelings are what define true love,  true love (and life) is more than all of that. So don’t be fooled by the movies; love is more than the fleeting state of “being in love.”

But love IS all of this:

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Ephesians 5:25-33

“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has notbeen perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:16-19

So if you’re out there on the other side of this screen, and you’re wishing for and dreaming of “the one,” remember Psalm 139. Remember that every day of your life was written by God before you were born, and if that includes love, he’s taking care of that chapter. And whether your life’s story involves a lasting earthly romance or not, you can rest assured that God has a plan for you, as we are told in Jeremiah 29:11 (no matter how over-quoted it may be) and that He’s working every little bit of it to for your good (Romans 8:28).

So I’d encourage you to leave your love life in God’s hands…and when a prince charming (or Cinderella) comes your way, remember to keep your eye out for true love that lasts.

Jen

1 corinthians 13 1 john 4 being in love blog about love C.S. Lewis Christianity Faith falling in love jeremiah 29:11 love love is patient mere christianity purity Romans 8:28 true love what is love?