God's vision to Ezekiel begins when the girl is an infant, rejected and neglected by those who should have cared for her.

On the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths.  No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you.  Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born you were despised. (Ezekiel 16:4-5)

This girl is doomed to die.  Born into a harsh and broken world, she is helpless on her own to change her death sentence.  But God has compassion on her.  He saves her life and takes her into his home.

Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, "Live!"  I made you grow like a plant of the field.  You grew up and developed and became the most beautiful of jewels.  Your breasts were formed and your hair grew, you who were naked and bare. (vv.6-7)

Is the story sounding familiar so far?  Those of us who have experienced Jesus' saving grace remember the feeling of being headed toward death.  We too were helpless in a harsh and broken world.  And we have fallen in love with a God who went searching for us, who swooped in to save us from our own death sentence and has taken us into his home.  He has nourished us, healed us and helped us to grow into women who reflect his beauty.

This is a picture of a God who adores us.  It is a God who is deeply in love with us.

Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness.  I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine (v. 8)

It's a fulfillment of the romantic dreams that we women are so obsessed with.  Reality TV is making millions off shows that involve people finding their perfect match and falling in love – well, supposedly.  Turn on The Learning Channel and you'll find endless episodes of "The Dating Story" and "The Wedding Story," followed by "The Baby Story" – none of which could happen, presumably, without a preceding "Makeover Story."  (What do you think we're "learning" from that?)  Christian fiction is filled with our church version of love connections.  We long to find perfect romantic love – to be cherished, pursued, adored.  In Ezekiel, God reveals his intentions to sweep us off our feet with such intense love that we pledge "to love and to cherish" one another the rest of our days.

The story goes on to tell of God's love for the girl and his lavish care for her.