PureVolume

So I got to thinking about Valentine's Day and why we make such a big deal about it. Commercial stuff aside, it's a great chance to let people know that we love them. For some people, I guess it provides a reminder TO love other people. After all, Jesus summed it up with two commands: 1.) Love God. 2.) Love people.

I always used to consider it a boyfriend/girlfriend and husband/wife holiday. After all, that's what it's geared towards. Of course, this doesn't count getting everyone in the class little cards and candies when you're in elementary school.

Recently, a few of my friends have shared a different view of Valentine's Day. They view it as a chance to share God's love with everyone, not just your significant other. Maybe this will seem like a no-brainer to many of you, but like i said, I always looked at it as a couples holiday.

I like thinking of it as a "sharing God's love" holiday. Even couples should shine with God's light in the world and reflect one of the many facets of His love for us. Regardless of your relationship status, sharing God's love transcends the ambiguous idea of "love" that often gets thrown around these days and centers on a beautiful, multi-faceted, true love that comes from the Lord and which we can relate to the world.

So maybe buying those corny little miniature cards from 5th grade (I got one already, and yes, I'm stoked about it!) isn't some "ooh let's make everybody feel better about themselves" sort of thing and can actually be a way of truly expressing a genuine love of everyone: friends, parents, and lovers (or significant others, to those who would be more politically correct). I truly hope all of you have a blessed and happy Valentine's Day full of God's love and grace and that you share that gift with everyone around you. After all, God is love, and what better way to celebrate a holiday about love than celebrating the very source of love!

~Matt