Today is Valentine’s Day!
I hope that did not elicit groans, cursing, or other expressions of faulty memory or neglect.
While we might be tempted to say Valentine’s Day originates with the card, candy, and flower folks, we need to know it does not.
It’s actually rooted in history, in a man who lived a long time ago. History gets a little fuzzy about Valentine, but the consensus is he was a good man who highly valued God’s love expressed in marriage.
The legend I like best involves Valentine who lived in the 3rd century. He was a Christian who defied Roman authorities by marrying soldiers who were in love. Rome thought married soldiers were less effective and, thus, denied marriage.
Valentine was imprisoned and eventually put to death for his defiant faith.
Go ahead and get the flowers or candy, and/or go out on a date, but also remember that this day is a day to celebrate love, selfless love that shows it depth to the point of death, while believing in Resurrection.
1 John 3:16a — This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
John 3:16,17 — For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
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