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| Illustration by: gubgib |
I looked up Valentine’s Day history, hoping for a
nice love story, but this is what I found: Apparently, the original Saint
Valentine was one, two, or three different people. His flower-adorned skull can
be found in Rome. (I wonder which Saint Valentine donated that!)
February 14 was the day that people believed the
birds picked their mates. (What does that have to do with anything, even if it
were true?)
Valentine’s Day was proclaimed for February 14 by a pope
in 496 A.D. I guess it was to honor Saints One, Two, and maybe Three, who were named
Valentine.
Where we got cupids and chocolate, hearts, and flowers
from, I have no idea. And how we went from a saint’s day (or two or three
saints’ day) to a day for love is beyond me.
In Mexico, February 14th is called the day of love and friendship. In
Spain, it’s for people in love. But, for most of us, it’s the day when we show
love.
Love really doesn’t have
anything to do with roses, heart-shaped boxes, and expensive mushy cards--or even February 14.
- Love is action.
- Love is commitment.
- Love is caring much more about someone else than you do for yourself. It’s selfless.
- Love is giving.
- Love is kind.
- Love is gentle.
- Love will admit wrong and ask forgiveness.
- Love will forgive, even when the other party doesn’t ask for forgiveness.
- Love doesn’t hold a grudge or hold on to hurts.
- Love is patient.
If you open your Bible and look at the characteristics of
love, there are several that aren’t what you usually think. There’s not a bit
of fluff and no fuzzy feeling stuff, either. It’s all about tough living and
giving. Look at this list from 1 Corinthians 13, the characteristics not
mentioned above:
- Love suffers long.
- Love doesn’t envy.
- Love doesn’t put itself first and isn’t prideful.
- Love doesn’t behave inappropriately.
- Love isn’t easily provoked.
- Love doesn’t think evil.
- Love isn’t happy about sin.
- Love rejoices in truth.
- Love forbears.
- Love trusts and believes.
- Love endures.
- Love never fails.
All those
wonderful characteristics describe God!
His very essence is love. He is the One Who knows how to love. He is love!
And He can enable
us to love.
As the Father hath loved
me, so have I loved you: continue ye
in my love. If ye keep my
commandments, ye shall abide in my love;
even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto
you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is
my commandment, That ye love one
another, as I have loved you.
Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends
(John 15:9-13).
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith
he loved us, Even when we
were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are
saved;) (Ephesians 3:4-5).
Beloved, let us love
one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth
is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is
love.
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten
Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not
that we loved God, but that he loved us,
and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another (1 John 4:7-11).
Herein
is love. God is love.
Happy Valentine's Day!
I had always heard it began when a priest named Valentine was in prison yet somehow still helped someone to get married, or performed a marriage, or something like that, despite his circumstances, evidencing the selflessness of love. But regardless of how it started, I think it's fun. :-) Of course, celebrating Valentine's Day with cards and flowers and neglecting the weightier truths of Scripture is a waste, but while we try to show each other godly, self-sacrificial love every day, it's fun to sprinkle in some of these other observances a bit.
ReplyDeleteOh yes! Nothing wrong with fun or chocolates! :o) God bless, Barbara.
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