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That often-illusive, ever-desirous thing in our lives...love.
It sure can get twisted in our minds, thanks to Cupid and the marketing industry. On this heart-filled day, if someone doesn't send us flowers or balloons, or brings us candy and a card, or treats us to dinner and a movie, we just don't feel loved. We feel jilted. (Okay, maybe I'm speaking more for the women, than for men.) But the point is that this day is hyped to the max for giving gifts to show our love, and the warm fuzzies are nice, don't get me wrong -- but is that love?
I'm gonna pick on my female species here just a little bit. We put a lot of pressure on men to meet expectations on Valentine's Day, don't we? The candy, the flowers, the time spent together -- all on this day. Why? Why is this day more special than the other 364 days of the year? Why does that heart-shaped box of candy and flowers speak to us more on February 14th than everyday commitment on June 12th, or September 10th? Have we been duped? I think so. Today is not magical, it's not really special, except that the calendar says so. Do the flowers smell sweeter? Does the dinner taste better? Why all the pressure to perform on THIS day? I think we need to get off our heart soapbox and give men a break. All of this lovey-dovey gift-giving is probably not their love language (the language that speaks to them of love (http://www.fivelovelanguages.com/), so they really have to work at staying out of the doghouse on this day -- it's not that they don't love, it's just that all the fru-fru of the day isn't something that they think about naturally. Women, on the other hand, think about these things -- that's why alot of men end up with balloons and candy from women, because that's what speaks to them! See how whacked this day ends up getting? -- The guy is standing there with a balloon bouquet that he just got from his gal, and he's in trouble because he didn't think to make dinner reservations at such-and-such restaurant but was planning on watching the basketball game on TV! Sigh....expectations, expectations. It's all so unnecessary.
God spelled out what love is...
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
That, my friends, is the standard we need to lift up...not the hype of Hershey and Hallmark. And the best part of real love is that it's not romantic, so even though you don't have a sweetheart, it doesn't mean you can't give and receive love! Love on this day, and every day, is not for the "in-love"ers only. It's for everyone. And every day is a day to give and receive love...real love...love described by God.
So, go out today (and tomorrow, and the next day) and love someone...
~ by smiling at the clerk while you wait in the endless line at the grocery store (patience)...
~by being truly happy for a co-worker who does receive romantic gifts today (no jealousy or envy)...
~by not bringing up the last seven Valentine's Days that your mate forgot to remember (not keeping a record of wrongs)...
Love. It comes from God and goes deep to the heart of commitment. And that's how God loves us, too...
Happy Valentine's Day to us from God...
Love,
Joelene
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