Just One Day?

One day a year we celebrate love. Just one. We take the time to make reservations to the nicest restaurants, buy chocolate, cards and flowers, and put on our best for the ones we love. There are the men who forgot their Valentine and are out buying the last chocolate heart box on the shelf, while the ladies have a homemade and bedazzled card and have made cupcakes for their man. Singles dread "V-day" (which is similar to "D-day" in their minds), and make intimate plans with Ben and Jerry.

But they are doing it all wrong.

Love was not meant to be shown through bought items. Love was not meant to be limited by a day. Love is not meant to be only shared with that special someone. Love does not equal Valentine's Day.

For those who do not know, the story of Valentines Day came from a story of a bishop named Valintine. In 270A.D. the emperor of Rome felt that unmarried men made more adequate soldiers therefore banning young men from marrying. Bishop Valentine had pity on these poor men and secretly wed them to their sweethearts. He was later jailed and executed for showing love and compassion towards the young men.

St. Valentine gave up his life for love.

There is another story along the same lines that I heard growing up.

The story talks about a Father who sent His son out into the world. He sent him out with the mission to show unconditional love to whomever He met. And after He showed even the prostitutes, tax collectors and beggars unconditional love, He sacrificed his life so all the people of the world could have their sins taken away.

Sounds like Prince Charming.

But yah, that was kinda the knock off version of John 3:16

"For God so LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten Son that who so ever believes in Him shall not parish but have eternal life."


The thing is, love in all forms should not be kept to Valentine's Day. God sent his one and only Son to show us that. He taught us to love our neighbors like ourselves, love our family, our friends, our enemies, our earth, and our life. What are we in His eyes if we only choose to exercise the love in our hearts on one day of the year?


Love is more than just a way you feel about your significant other, family or friend. It can present itself in a million different ways. But one thing is always true, true love is described in 1 Corinthians 13.


"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."


Love never fails. Never. 


I want to love like everyday. Patiently, kindly, without jealously or self-seeking.

That is the hardest possible thing to do. But I want to. I want to love more than just on Valentines Day. Everyday of life should be a celebration of Love. Loving the least of these. Loving those who have never been shown the "Corinthians" love. Loving my family more throughly. Loving those who hate me for loving them. Love. Everyone. Everyday.

It will be a challenge. But God has put up with me thus far. He has loved me unconditionally, no matter how I betray him. I wouldn't be a good follower of Christ if I didn't try to love the same way.

Just some food for thought.

With all the love I have to give,

Jasmine