Much ado is made about love these days. Movies, songs, television shows, even commercials (every kiss begins with “K”, in case you weren’t aware…); love is everywhere. Finding love, keeping love, showing love, giving love…apparently love is trying to choke us to death simply to prove that it exists; and honestly, that’s fine. Love is a wonderful thing and every person should be blessed enough to experience it. But what of those who’ve had a less than desirable experience and as a result feel unworthy of accepting love into their lives? What about those who fling their Ben & Jerry’s at the TV when jewelry commercials dance across their screen because they can’t stand to see another handsome couple kiss?

It’s widely accepted that relationships are a gamble. We allow ourselves to be open and vulnerable with another person in the hopes of finding our forever; sometimes this works out for the best, but other times, we are left alone and broken. We took a chance on finding love and were hurt because of it. When this happens, it’s easy to allow bitterness to set in our hearts. We made that gamble once and because we were so badly hurt, we’d rather not open ourselves up to such punishment again. It’s understandable. I’ve been there; it’s why I’ve found myself empty of feeling and on a shameful path of strange bedfellows and lost morals. You may have been there as well (though I pray you’ve been spared for the most part). Yet, with the prevalence of love surrounding us in a taunting dance, it’s fairly simple to fall back into wanting to feel that connection again. We’re drawn to feeling completed within the folds of another. It’s only when we realize the risk associated with falling for someone new that we hesitate in taking a fresh leap of faith. And within that hesitation, we can find ourselves missing legitimate opportunities of faithful romance and love.

We can’t pretend that a romantic relationship is the end all, be all of our existence—it’s not. There are so many more important things. But if love is what we want, if romance is something we’re willing to chase after or have chase us, then it’s helpful to be willing to accept its graces into our lives. Yes, our heart has been broken, and yes, we should take ample time to heal from the wounds of our past, but that doesn’t mean we are unworthy of love. No matter what’s happened to us or how awful the mistakes of our past are—and mine are the worst of the lot—we deserve to be loved; it’s even our right. Honestly, if I, the one of broken hearts and failed promises, can find a wholesome, healing love after falling so far, then so can anyone.

Love is a gamble and romance is never guaranteed; but if we can pry open our will to be accepting, even after all the heartache, then maybe we can find the kind of love we’ve wanted all along.

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