Valentine’s Day on Steroids
Yesterday was Valentine’s day. I must confess, up front, that I don’t have a romantic bone in my body, so that may colour my opinions.
My thoughts on Valentine’s Day are mixed. I hate the idea of relationships being exploited for commercial gain. They are far too important to our well-being for that. However, because they are so important, I can see the value in having a day when we are reminded of the need to take seriously this vital part of our lives that is often neglected or taken for granted. But then, what is emphasized on Valentine’s Day, romantic love, is just a small part of what true love is, and if we focus on that to the exclusion of everything else, we are heading for relationship disaster. You can see my dilemma.
As always, I go to the bible for clarity. The Bible describes love like this, “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” (1 Cor. 13:4-7).
What does that mean? Romantic love is easy because it makes us feel good. This kind of love takes a lot more effort. It puts the needs of the other above our own, which brings with it personal cost and inconvenience. This kind of love is practical. It requires that we do the right thing by another person, even at those times when they are being unlovable or don’t appear to appreciate our actions. But this is the kind of love that God shows us and longs for us to show to each other, not on one special day, but each and every day, which makes every day a kind of Valentine’s Day on steroids.
Neil Percival
My thoughts on Valentine’s Day are mixed. I hate the idea of relationships being exploited for commercial gain. They are far too important to our well-being for that. However, because they are so important, I can see the value in having a day when we are reminded of the need to take seriously this vital part of our lives that is often neglected or taken for granted. But then, what is emphasized on Valentine’s Day, romantic love, is just a small part of what true love is, and if we focus on that to the exclusion of everything else, we are heading for relationship disaster. You can see my dilemma.
As always, I go to the bible for clarity. The Bible describes love like this, “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” (1 Cor. 13:4-7).
What does that mean? Romantic love is easy because it makes us feel good. This kind of love takes a lot more effort. It puts the needs of the other above our own, which brings with it personal cost and inconvenience. This kind of love is practical. It requires that we do the right thing by another person, even at those times when they are being unlovable or don’t appear to appreciate our actions. But this is the kind of love that God shows us and longs for us to show to each other, not on one special day, but each and every day, which makes every day a kind of Valentine’s Day on steroids.
Neil Percival