Love is very powerful. “Love has the power, to make the weakest man tower, to make the strongest man cower, God has no end to His power, Love is a fire, whose flames reach higher and higher, Love burns with endless desire, to see us whole.” Matthew Ward.
Some long for the romance of love, others need the intimacy of companionship and not feeling lonely. God made us with a beautiful ability to express love and accept another’s love. It’s important to guard our heart and keep it open and tender. Our heart and soul, long to be whole and complete. That’s why when we receive Jesus into our heart, he can satisfy our needs beyond our desires.
The Lord also wants us to have companionship so that we can fully enjoy and instill within another, our expressions of love. The Bible combines love with grace, mercy and respect for it to be genuine and proper. We are blessed when we find loving companions, but overwhelmed to overflowing when we find that person who is to be with us throughout our entire life.
In 1st Corinthians 13:4-7, the Apostle Paul defines the Love (Agape) of God.
“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.” NLT.
In our house, we use the phrase, “Always the other’s good.”
There are many kinds of love, from friendship to family love, but all are an expression from our heart. I recall a personal story of an orphaned coworker who was never adopted. She recounted the most impactful event of her life, was when as a little girl, a stranger put their hand on her shoulder while sitting on a bench and felt overcome with love.
This Valentine’s Day, consider it a day of expressing love, not just to loved-ones but to those who may be lonely.
VALENTINES DAY HISTORY
Valentine’s Day was first recognized in 496 AD by Pope Gelasius, in honor of a martyred Roman Catholic Priest, Saint Valentine or Valentinus (1 of 11). Valentine, an Italian doctor who became a Priest, was jailed for performing marriages during a ban by Roman Emperor Claudius Gothicus II who needed undistracted recruits. He was then executed by being beaten, stoned, and beheaded on February 14, 269 AD, for evangelizing and refusing to renounce his faith in Jesus the Christ, after first being offered a pardon to renounce his faith.
He was famous for praying and restoring the sight of Julia, the daughter of his jailer, Asterius, who he also sent a note of encouragement, which some consider to be the first Valentine card and inspired others to do the same on the day of his execution. Asterious admired and allowed Valentine to verbally tutor Julia because of his wisdom.
The religious holiday of Valentine’s Day morphed from praying to Valentine as the Saint of Romance, with the worship of Cupid, the mythological Roman god of passion who is associated with Eros god of sex and Amor god of love. Cupid is the son of Venus the Roman goddess of desire and Mercury winged god of merchandise.
Fittingly, Valentine’s Day is now a secular holiday. In 2019, 135 million Americans spent $20.7 billion, with 28% on flowers of which 69% are red roses, 1.8 billion on candy, 5% on jewelry, 32% on-line shopping and $886 million on gifts for their pets.
Remember the reason for your gift, to bless the heart of the one you love.
Happy Valentine’s Day
Your Brother,
Oscar B