I've watched the trend on facebook today (cause we know that is the source of ALL things). There are the I LOVE my husband, boyfriend, wife kind of statuses. There are the quote a Bible verse on love statuses. There are those who ignore the fact that some consider today a holiday statuses. And then there is this disturbing trend toward "singleness" or "relationship" awareness day statuses. Those are the ones that bother me. Maybe it's just that I read enough of "So Long Insecurity" yesterday ... or maybe its just because I am a sap for any good occasion. But I think I've made my case already that I do LOVE valentines ... the red and the pink, the hearts, the chocolate! But mostly I love being prompted to tell the people dearest to me that they matter and that I love them.
When we were in college, my brother was really close to a group of about 10 other people. One Thanksgiving, they lost one of their own in a tragic car accident. It just brought the remainder of them closer together. It reminded them that they were important to each other. They held each other closer. They never left things unsaid or undone. They NEVER parted without saying "I love you ..." for years!! That little band of friends stayed close for a long time ... with Thursday night dinners and "Friends" reruns ... through weddings and through babies. It's only recently that they have scattered a bit from that Thursday night ritual. But they still remain immensely important to one another.
It's kind of sad that it takes tragedy to bring out the best in us sometimes and to remind us of what is most important. I don't think that it's that we don't want to be present and intentional and say "I love you" more ... I think we just get busy living life and we forget the really important stuff. And that, is why I think Valentine's Day is a good reminder. Over and over throughout my journey with the Israelites, they got in trouble when they stopped remembering. We are no less susceptible. Any reminder to say "I love you" to those we care about... any excuse to send a card or a small gift ... any chance to tell someone why they matter (with words or actions) should be something we look forward to. It shouldn't be confined to a day ... or even a series of days (holidays, birthdays, etc) ... but let's face it, we don't remember much better than the Israelites. Yes, I think that we should live a life of love every day but it never hurts to spend a little extra time on it every now and then.
So, whoever decided that Valentine's day was for couples missed the mark ... it is for those who LOVE and are LOVED ... I think that should just about cover us all!
Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. (Eph 5:1-2)
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Eph 3:17-19)
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! (I John 3:1)
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
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