Valentine’s Day

      Valentine’s Day is a special day designated on February 14 to express love and appreciation for someone special.  It is more than a day for chocolates, or florist to sell his flowers or Hallmark to sell the cards.  Why is it necessary to have a special day to show a person you care for them?  Unfortunately, many people have difficulty expressing their true feelings.  A story was told of an older couple that had been married for more than fifty years.  The woman asked her spouse, “Why don’t you ever tell me you love me?”  Most of the time, she would received only blank stares.  One day she asked the question again, and in a tone of irritation, he stated, “I told you fifty years ago that I loved you and that if I ever changed my mind I would tell you.  Well, I haven’t changed my mind yet.”

      Love is a very difficult word to define.  We love food, we love things, we love people, and therefore, the true meaning of love is often lost in the emotions of the moment.  Many look at true love just as an emotion.  Emotion is a part of love but it goes much farther that than.  An unknown writer stated, “Loving is not just looking at each other, it's looking in the same direction.”  Another way of expressing this is, “Love is not just looking into each others eyes; it’s walking hand in hand with each other.”

      Love is giving—not getting.  Richard Braunstein wrote, “It is possible to give without loving, but it is impossible to love without giving.”  Another has written, “When you give away your love, that doesn't mean it's gone.  Love will last forever, so open your heart...and pass it on.”  The greatest definition of love one can find is in 1 Corinthians 11:4-7, “Love is patient and kind.  Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.  Love does not demand its own way.  Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.  It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.  Love will last forever.”  NLT 

So on this Valentine’s Day, would it not be nice to hear someone say or hear, “I love you more every day.  In fact when I awoke this morning, I thought it was tomorrow!”  Watch what a difference it makes---if, stated in sincerity.   

Have a great Valentine’s Day!