Valentine's Day...
hearts, cupid, blown kisses, chocolate, flowers, couples holding hands, romantic dinners,
These are the images that come to mind because society has imposed them on us. These days, even as early as the day after New Year's stores are decorated and filled with pink and red hearts of every size. But has Valentine's day ever brought images to your mind of a man or woman sitting at home alone eating dinner in front of the TV?
Do you ever think about the divorced or widowed man or woman who doesn't receive flowers or candy on Valentine's day anymore because their spouse is gone? Have you ever thought to send a Valentine's day card to the single person who prays each morning that this may be the day Mr. or Mrs.
walks right into their life?
And what about the man or woman who has made the choice to remain single in order to serve God better? - don't all of them still deserve love and affection on Valentine's day and every day?
Valentine's day is just one day, but ironically and unfortunately, it is a day on which many feel anything but love. Valentine's day isn't just for couples. Valentine's day is for everyone. Love is for everyone. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son" [John 3:16].
God loves us all, and so we must love everyone as well.
Jesus tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:13 that "the greatest of these is love". Matthew 22:39 reminds us to "love your neighbor as yourself". So why is it so difficult to love one another sometimes? After all, doesn't love conquer all, as we are reminded in 1 Peter 4:8, that we are to "love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins"?
1 Corinthians 13:4 says that "love is kind". On Valentine's day and every day, be kind to one another - to everyone - not just those you love or who love you back. That's easy! But when you love and are kind to those who don't always reciprocate, now that's demonstrating the love that Jesus asks of us in Luke 6:32, "for if you love those who love you, then what credit is that to you?" It isn't even as difficult as you may think, because if you love Jesus, then you have the Spirit in you, and "the fruit of the Spirit is love" [Galatians 5:22].
Like most people, I too, am guilty of selecting the only the ones I love from a box of Valentines chocolates. Long after the holiday those few pieces are left in the box,
sitting there, waiting for someone to love them too.
This Valentine’s day, "let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" [Hebrews 10:24]. This Valentine’s day pick that chocolate no one loves, give it a taste, and see if you can find something about it to love. In the same manner, connect with that "unloved" person and consider how you can love them, the way Jesus loves you.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
