Valentine’s Day is supposed to be the most romantic day of the year. I perceive it differently.This perception has inspired me in how I love.
As a child we had fun with it. Getting to choose, who got which valentine’s card and what treat went with it.Taking the time to make cards that weren’t perfect but heartfelt.
My Valentine’s Day Confession
As I grew, my fondness for Valentine’s day wore off. My girlfriends and I would gather together to have anti-Valentine’s Day parties. We would make cookies with black frosting and celebrate our friendship even if we were dating someone at the time. We were determined not to let one day determine whether or not love was in the air.
That has seemed to carry on into my marriage as well. I no longer make cookies and frost them with black icing but my husband knows that gifting me something on the day doesn’t thrill me. That sounds kinda rude or mean, but the truth of the matter is because this day seems commercially forced upon us, it feels more like a day of obligation than of love.
I’d rather have a year full of small expressions of love than a day of forced love. If this day was not called Valentine’s Day would there still be a compulsive out flowing of love?
What does our “love” look like to God?
I wonder how often God looks down on our time of worship and pines for our love to flow throughout the week instead of just seeing it expressed for a couple of hours. Do we pray, read our Bibles, sing songs, or even worship with the church out of obligation and compulsion or because we can’t help but express our love that way?
That has to be part of the reason why God gave us the choice to love Him. Forced love is no love at all but simply submission to what has to be.
Real love is willing to sacrifice itself and die to self for the sake of another.
“I will find you!”
My husband and I have a running joke. Sometimes, when we say good-bye or don’t know when we will see each other again because of hectic schedules, we will say in a husky voice, “I will find you!” (Think Daniel Day Lewis in The Last of the Mohicans, my favorite movie.)
This simple phrase when said, not only makes us laugh, but conveys the thought that no matter what is going on, we will be there for each other. We will go after and sacrifice ourselves for each other, if need be.
Jesus came from heaven to earth to find us! He came to save us long before we ever realized we need saving. He knocks on our door and we get to choose whether or not we open our hearts to receive his love and love Him back.
A Valentine’s Day Question
As you ponder what love is on this day, will you ask yourself this question:
Are you loving God and willing to sacrifice your life for Him, or are you just going through the motions because you feel this is something you need to do?
I am a mother of 5 crazy, homeschooling children ages 10 & under, wife to an amazing man, and daughter of the King of the Universe!I enjoy reading, making my kids laugh, cooking, all things natural, learning to play guitar and dusting off my piano skills.One day I hope to run again, but until then I’m learning patience.
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My husband views Valentine’s Day the same way you do. And, honestly, this year it has made me really sad. My heart is breaking for a friend who’s wife passed away unexpectedly a couple of months ago. Today can’t be easy for him. My heart is hurting for my son who broke up with his girlfriend recently. I don’t even know how to help ease the pain he is going through today as he watches her celebrate at school with her new guy. For a holiday that is supposed to be about love, it sure does cause a lot of… Read more »
I want to say with my heart I am willing to sacrifice until it hurts though. Isn’t that horrible?!? If it gets uncomfortable, I can only take so much and then I give up!
I was having this conversation today about valentines being “forced love” it’s interesting how people perceive it so differently! But I’m with you, I’d rather consistently give and receive love daily than wait for one day of forced love!
Kristi, this is a great post. I think you are right, in that Valentine’s Day has become such a commercial racket rather than a day devoted to true love. We should be loving our significant others all year long in ways that they appreciate and are meaningful, just as we should be loving and worshipping God on a regular basis, not just one day a week. Thanks for sharing. – Amy
My husband and I don’t make a big deal out of Valentine’s Day. We both usually give each other a heartfelt card but I think we’re both pretty good at making sure we are a priority for each other everyday of the year. I know my relationship with God has come a long way in the last year. It is much more about getting to spend time with Him rather than feeling like it was a box to check on my list.
“I’d rather have a year full of small expressions of love than a day of forced love. If this day was not called Valentine’s Day would there still be a compulsive out flowing of love?” Just wow! Yes, of not for this day called Love day, would we still bother expressing our love to make another feel special
I think it’s sad that people can’t just enjoy a fun, cheesy day.