No, I wasn't even creative in my dislike. I just thought Valentines Day was a frivolity of commercialism brought on by greeting card companies, peddlers of roses, and chocolatiers. All through the years of dating and early marriage, my sweetie and I never celebrated Valentines Day, throwing the line of "we don't need someone else to tell us what day to say I love you" until...
A little life came into our home almost 6 years ago, followed by two more little lives in quick succession. As these tiny blessings grew and became aware of a holiday revolving around colorful hearts with messages of adoration, my heart changed.
Does our society of bigger is better lean to the side of commercialism around December 25?
Do we sprinkle in some bunnies and eggs filled with surprises come March and April each year?
Of course we do, and as we're enjoying those festivities, we keep our eyes on the cross and the Savior who conquered death to bring us new life.
So, I realized as I watched my children cutting out hearts and selecting Valentines for their preschool friends, why should February 14 be any different?
This year as I enjoy creating Valentine crafts like pillows and canvases, baking Valentine goodies or perusing beautiful Valentine projects on Pinterest, I'm no longer going to dismiss February 14 as a non-holiday. Instead I'm considering it a day to really love as I should all year, but not just the romantic love I share with my main man, my partner in life.
I'm going to love the seemingly unlovable this Valentines. I'm going to love a stranger this Valentines. I'm going to love the neighbor or coworker who is difficult to love this Valentines. I'm going to love you, my blog readers I most likely will never know face to face, this Valentines.
How, you may ask, will I love all these people? By the grace of my Creator, who is Love.
As I'm studying through the book of Nehemiah, I'm learning so much about my God who is full of kindness and who keeps his covenant of love to His children. In the English language, we have very few words to express love, so we throw it around lightly from "I love cookies" to "I love my husband". We know these uses of love hold different meanings (well, maybe not with cookies...they come pretty close!), but when you look at other languages, there are often multiple words to express different types of love.
Take Hebrew, for example. I do not profess to know much about Hebrew, but I am learning some of the roots of words to better understand Biblical text. The Hebrew word hesed means "unfailing love, loyal love, devotion, kindness, often based on a prior relationship". We see this word used throughout the Bible displaying God's love for us with the tangible benefits of protection, comfort, and provision we often feel at times we are in need of mercy.
What would our world be like if we all chose to love this way? What if we showed kindness and unfailing love to all we encounter, not just our special mate or our children?
Kelly Minter, author and speaker, writes in her book Nehemiah: A Heart That Can Break "His (God's) love compels us to love Him back with affection and obedience. It's a gracious circle that begins and ends with God, enabling us to love Him in return, a love that doesn't allow us to live cheaply but fully!"
She declares, "A bit of a mystery perhaps, but one worth embracing". I want to embrace that kind of love so I can pour into others each day and see love bloom.
Valentines Day has so won my heart that, who knows, you may even see a little romance around this house come February 14!
And now it's your turn: how do you make Valentines special?
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You're Gonna Love It @ Kathe With an E
Very beautiful piece. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm glad you stopped by and took the time to read my musings!
DeleteMy mother always made a "big deal" about celebrations and we loved that. She felt little occasions brought us together as a family which was especially important to her as a divorced woman, struggling to raise four children. We didn't see Valentine's Day as about romantic love, but about love, period. Our dears, our friends, our neighbors, even our pets were treated to some kind of love token, including some or all of the traditional symbols, hugs, words, cards, etc., on that day. It was wonderful and it still is.
ReplyDeleteYour post is lovely and I look forward to reading more of your thoughts as I get to know you. Have a lovely day!
Lesa, thank you for sharing about your family and your mother. How special to have a mother who modeled that type of love and made celebrations out of life! I'm sure it has impacted you in a big way and I hope you enjoy this Valentine season of showering love on the people and animals in your life!
DeleteThanks for being a part of our community here!
Jessica, I really enjoyed reading your thoughts and insights. After my girls left home I stopped decorating for some of the more "minor" days. However, since there are grands around my house a lot and they enjoy each holiday and all that comes with it, my husband(who likes to see the kids' faces) and I have been placing a few items of decoration around the house for them to enjoy for most of the holidays. I put a little more effort into Valentine's Day this year, maybe because it is my youngest grand's last year with Mimi. Thanks again for the lovely and meaningful post.
ReplyDeleteLynn, I know your grands are loving it and what a special way to show them some love! Thanks for sharing.
DeleteThis is such a neat post! I love it! True love for others should always be celebrated! Even if we don't have a "significant other" in our lives, just celebrating God's amazing love for us by loving others is worth celebrating! =D Thanks for sharing this! Hugs to you, my friend! =D
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing in my enthusiasm! I know love is always worth it, even when it's hard. And hugs right back!
DeleteLove your post, it made me stop and think. It is easy to say the word 'love' but do we mean it ? There is not enough real love in this world. Thank you for sharing yours.
ReplyDeleteVivien, thank you for your thoughtful words. I'm glad it helped you to stop and think. I know I need reminders sometimes to be the person I want to be in the midst of busy life.
DeleteTo "love the neighbor or co-worker who is difficult to love" is quite the challenge! That could apply to a relative or perhaps even the beau of one of our children. (I'm not naming names!) That's a good goal for this Valentine's Day. I spend every day lavishing my husband with love, so maybe I'll direct a little of that energy toward those who seem to be having a bad day. Probably a good day to go hang out at the DMV where everybody ALWAYS seems to be having a bad day! :-) You just never know how far a smile or a hug might take a person when they're feeling down!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful posting, Jessica, and a wonderful reminder that we are called to love more than just the lovable. I'll have to look for Minter's book - it sounds like an excellent read! Thank you for sharing your insights and wisdom!
ReplyDeleteI needed to read this Jessica as I am having difficulty with a colleague. I gotta love her too.
ReplyDeleteHa ha! Still have "Love Hurts" playing in my head (love those melodramatic songs of the 80s).
ReplyDeleteAnd what an important reminder that even though society may be trying to shove its commercialism down our throats during each new holiday, we don't need to follow the herd. In our hearts and in our home, we can re-focus our attention on who we're really celebrating: GOD!
I applaud you for deciding to love the unlovable this Valentine's Day. That's not easy, but you're right in begging the question, what could our world become if everyone tried to love the unlovable? I imagine that the circle of grace would find its way into our every interaction. We would love others and experience the love of God, which would spur us on to love others, and greater experience the love of God....and so on! "What a wonderful world..." as the song goes.
You've inspired me to make that my prayer this Valentine's Day - - to love the strangers I come into contact with - - the disgruntled postal workers - - the beggar at the street corner - - the person who swipes my card at the YMCA. With God's help, He can change my wicked heart, and give me HIS love to bestow upon his children.
Thank you for this powerful and inspiring post, Jessica! I am so grateful that you've directed me to think on these things.
I figured you of all people would appreciate the musical reference, Lauren!
DeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts and heart with us too. I really appreciated the examples of the people you would love this season - the often forgotten or disregarded in the midst of our busy days. Especially in this season of motherhood with little eyes watching, I am striving to love better because that's how my children will learn and how a legacy is passed.