Valentine’s Day wasn’t an occasion Daniel or I had been fond of, at least not until 2026. We both decided last minute we wanted to exchange something very meaningful, so we both took our time picking the perfect gifts. Our exchange took place nearly two months late, but it’s inspired us to keep love alive year round.

I vividly remember Valentine’s Day two years ago in 2024. It was a rough year, a year God’s light shone bright in contrast to the difficulties I faced alone. That morning, a coworker approached me. Never had I seen her so angry, certainly not towards me. I knew I must have done something to offend her greatly as I saw pain break through the anger in her eyes. The evening before, in a haste to clock out for the day, I left a dirty mop bucket in her area, only for her to find it first thing the next morning. For many hours, I stewed over our interaction. Why was this such a big deal? I soon realized that my small oversight might have felt like a huge weight on a day when everyone deserves to feel seen. It was more than just a dirty mop bucket; it symbolized a lack of appreciation, of care, of love. After giving her my sincerest apology, I decided I would show this coworker as much love as I possibly could, and that’s exactly what I did over the next year. Perhaps the greatest lesson here was learning how to give love even when it felt like I had none. I guess you could say, this was one way God determined I was ready for a love of my own.

One year later, on a Friday afternoon, I was reminded in just a few short hours I would be clocking out to spend the weekend alone. My coworker entered the room. “We single women have to stick together, don’t we?” I managed to blurt out in the midst of an awkward hug, barely able to hold back my tears as I told her Happy Valentine’s Day. This is indeed how love works, isn’t it? It’s not a thing we find, but rather, something we have readily available inside of us waiting to be shared with others. It’s not something we get, but rather, are inspired to give because He gives to us freely. Little did I know I was just a few short days from meeting the love I had been waiting for.

I couldn’t wait to surprise Daniel with his gold Seiko watch. The watch band can be interchanged with a brown leather strap I had personalized for him with the words “God’s timing” engraved in an old world style script. On the inside of the band is the word “entangled” engraved to match the inside of my wedding band. I received two gold rose-shaped earrings with a small diamond on the inside of each rose.

These gifts as well as our wedding bands reflect our wedding story: “The Gift of God’s Timing: When Two Become One”—“God’s Timing” the message engraved on his watch band, the two roses from our painting “When Two Become One”, the engraved message “entangled” on the inside of his watch band and my wedding band, and the message “and the two become one” engraved on the inside of his wedding band.

The love I experience with Daniel is more than a product of God’s timing; it’s a consequence of learning to love others well. We find love when we’re ready to love. We’re ready to love when we discover we are eternally loved by He who is love.