When I woke up this morning, I realized Valentine’s Day was upon us once again. This is a day we celebrate special people in our lives that we love dearly. As I thought about this special day, I began to wonder why we wait until February 14th to do something special for special people that we love. It would be wonderful if we practiced showing some special love to special people throughout the year. As we grow older, we should not take for granted the ones in our lives who have stood by us through thick and thin. True love is hard to come by, but when we find it, there is no greater feeling. Let’s put forth a concerted effort in 2023 to make lovers day common practice throughout the year. It would be a travesty to treat someone special one day out of the year and mistreat them thereafter. Shame on us if we fall into that category. Too often many become “in love” during this day, but the rest of the year, they do not show the same zeal or passion for the spouse or love one.
This year, before we consider someone else special, look at yourself and tell yourself how special you are because no one else may do it. Even if no one else treats you special on this day, treat yourself and I promise you will feel better as you live out the day. The most important relationship in your life is the one you share with yourself, so splurge and treat yourself in some different and delightful way.
Let’s do something a little different from what we have done in the past on this Valentine’s Day. Why not reach out to a person who we know is brokenhearted and let them know they are loved and not forgotten. I often think about persons who have lost loved ones and are now all alone. This is a very difficult day for many who will be spending Valentine’s Day without that special person. Think of your family members and friends who may benefit from your expression of love in some way today.
May we be reminded that Valentine’s Day is not just for lovers, for it can be celebrated by anyone who wants to express their affection for someone special, regardless of their relationship status. Valentine’s Day is a day for celebrating love, not just romantic love between couples.
Whenever we associate love with scripture, it is difficult not to refer to 1 Corinthians 13:4-5: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others; it is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs.” Today is going to be a very difficult day for some people who wish to give flowers, candy, cards etc., but it will also be difficult for the recipient because of how they have been mistreated. May we be reminded that none of us are perfect and we have made some mistakes. Let today be your Day of Reconciliation and forgiveness, but be authentic and transparent about it. Don’t remind each other of the difficulties you have had to endure over this past year, just appreciate today and move forward with a new attitude of loving on each other. Just my thoughts! I did not say it would be easy.
Song of Solomon says, “Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away.” I recently heard of a story where two young people fell in love with each other. The challenge for them was their race. One was African American and the other white. The family had a problem with the relationship, but the parents failed to realize that love knows no color.
Over the last few years, there has been a shift in the behavior of people and they have begun showing their true colors. There is so much hatred and evil in the world. Just today we hear about a mass shooting in Michigan. The Bible tells us that vices like hatred, manipulation, and deception are not fought with weapons, but love. We have been taught that love conquers all.
May we put forth a concerted effort today to share some love!
Martin Luther King, Jr. says it best, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
Not a sermon, just my thoughts!
Robert Earl Slade, Pastor
