The cliché of the day floods the view of flowers, teddy bears, chocolates and sight of lovers.
But what’s the story behind Valentine’s Day? Is it really about lovers exchanging gifts and letters and having dinner dates? Or is it something more?
I have read from my hallmark planner that has ignited me to pen this:
“Valentine’s Day – according to Roman legend, during 33rd century, Valentinus was imprisoned for his Christian belief and sentenced to death. While jailed, according to the legend, Valentinus restored the sight of jailer’s blind daughter. The night before he died, Valentinus wrote a farewell note to a girl, which signed, “From Your Valentine.” His sentence was carried out the next day, February 14, 269 A.D.”
Now, squeezing the juice from the finds -- Valentine’s Day was beyond the façade. It is a reminiscence of a man who was persecuted and fought his love for God even it cost his very life. Even, it ended him not to marry the woman of his dreams. His moment before his death was a display of God’s love and brought sight. Valentinus life displayed a strong sense of love. It made me realize that love restores sight. Love heals. Love makes you see things clear, make things clear. It removes the cloud of darkness in its sight ahead. Love pursues and stands on the Truth all at the same time. Love overcomes fear. Love overcomes death. Love is giving up your life.
Our generation promotes sweet but empty-selfish love; professing love in its cheapness everywhere. But are we brave enough to question what kind of love we display that make you stand and pursue Truth? Can that kind of love give you sight for what love really is and heal? Can you love God more?
Valentine’s day had inspire us to stand and die for God’s purpose – not just to stand for what we believe but to stand and die for what is the only Truth. To love that brings healing. To love in order to brave those fears and lose your life for the one you really love and worth dying for. In a sense, we needed to go back to love’s origin enabling us to love strong and true. For love is neither a feeling nor a thing. Love is an action.
“Let us not love with word and speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 john 3:18
