Valentines Day

Cards, hearts, flowers, candy, and martyrdom.

I thought I'd write a lighthearted post on Valentine's day.  But when I started looking into the history of it, I found, not a beautiful, pleasant picture, but confused stories giving several accounts of a saint named Valentine.  

Some accounts tell us that St. Valentine was a Roman priest and a physician.  He is supposed to have been killed during the persecution of Christians by the emperor Claudius II in about the year 270.  There are other "Valentines" that people have named as the person to whom February 14 is connected.  At least one of those men was supposed to have been martyred as well.

For myself, I prefer not to dwell on the martyrdom, or to think of the "cards, hearts, flowers, and candy."  I prefer to dwell on the fact of love - not just romantic love as the holiday has evolved into, but the love of our God.  

The only reason there is real love in this world is that God himself IS love.  It is so cool that the creator of this world IS what His creation needs.  

God showed His love to me today

in fluffy clouds and new mown hay,

in mountain's towering peaks that rise

from gentle plains, to ice blue skies.

Flowers shouting loud and clear - 

their colors bright with dew drop's tear,

and tall green trees that wave, and sway

in summer breeze - they boldly say,

"God's showing love to you today."

Cold clear streams that leap and roar 

and soothe a throat that's dry and sore --

in all these things my heart can say

"God's showing love to me today."

In gentle hands that help and bear

and tears that come from hearts that care,

in family's love and loyalty

God shows his mighty Love to me.

In words that come from deep within

the loving heart of a dear friend,

a pat, a hug, a tender touch

that says, "I love you, oh so much."

We see in each amazing way 

God show HIS awesome love each day

"This is love: not that we loved God, 

but that he loved us 

and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

1 John 4:10 (NIV)