'Tis the day of love. It's fun. We have hearts and roses and CANDY and pink and red in various places scattered about our house. It's a day where we're purposeful about telling each other "I love you". It's a day where we're inspired to cut out construction paper into cutsie little hearts and write "To Grambie Love Corene" on them. It's a day where we indulge in chocolate and candy to our heart's content. Dark chocolate Ghiradelli squares with raspberry filling, to be specific. Did I mention to my heart's content? Anyways, ummm, it's a delicious day.
But, c'mon! The day of LOVE? I have to get serious and really examine what in the world hearts, flowers, and chocolate have to do with love. OK, stop, I need to rephrase that. What in the world do hearts and flowers have to do with love? It is painfully obvious what CHOCOLATE has to do with love!!
It's so commercialized, isn't it? Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking Valentine's day. I love Valentine's day, with all of it's fluff and fun. But I had to start thinking when I saw the look on one of my flute student's faces today when I said, "Happy Valentine's day!" She looked up at me and said, "Yeah, whatever. Valentine's day is so depressing when I don't have a boyfriend." Or when my friend told me, "I wish my husband would think about Valentine's day before 9am ON Valentine's day". I resonated with both of those comments. Yeah, depressing when you don't have a Valentine. Yeah, disappointing when your hubby doesn't put the time/thought into Valentine's day. For a lot of people, Valentine's day breeds more feelings of longing or emptiness than it does warm-fuzzies and contentment.
There's human love and then there's Divine Love. Even the very best of all human love leaves something to be desired when you compare it to the Love of God:
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
As wonderful as marriage and children and dear friends and family and brothers and sisters in Christ are, it pales in comparison to Christ's love. It actually draws us to the Cross, or it should. It leaves us longing for more. For a more perfect love. The love of Jesus.
Could it be, that this is by design? We are left feeling just a bit empty on a day that is about love. On a day that the world says will fill you up.
"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you." Psalm 63:3
May this be my prayer, and may I really believe it.
Jenny
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About Me
- Jenny
- Minneapolis, MN, United States
- I'm a: 1)Child of God 2)Wife to a wonderful hubby 3)Mom to 3 beautiful children 4)pretty good juggler :)
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1 comment:
Hi Jenny. I was thinking about the very same thing last night. I like what you said that there might be a design or reason for the lack of contentment we find on Valentine's Day. I am thankful for my husband and kids. I am so blessed. I realize that on days like Valentine's day we are shown on TV what the perfect day of love looks like. Couples embracing and kissing while eating dinner by candlelight in a spotless house. In reality we have kids climbing all over us (that can be wonderful too...just difficult when you are trying say I love you to your honey), candleslite what???, and the house is a mess. These are things that are wonderful...yes even the messy house. The world may say this is not the standard to live up to but that messy house is a testiment to the family we get to love on this day. Our children's toys laying on the floor can remind us of the laughter we heard that day...ok and that we might want to go over the rules again. :) Due to the sugar rush the kids had we didn't have a very peaceful or fuzzy feeling day. But I hold on to the sweet moments. The "Mommy I love you" My son coming up and rubbing my back before he climbed into my lap to for some snuggle time. My husband did pick something up on the way home but they were very wonderful chocolates from Moonstruck (on Oprah's favorite's list a few years back)which were very yummy and special after a trying day. He remembered seeing them on the news a few years back and knew I would like them. It is really amazing the healing power of chocolate. : ) As I was laying in bed I was thinking about how on Valentine's Day and Christmas too there is a feeling of yearning after all is said and done. The day may be perfect and you may be given some of the most thoughtful gifts but there is something missing without the relationship and love from our Heavenly Father. At times I am leaning on and looking unfairly to family, friends, kids, and my wonderful husband to fill something that only our Heavenly Father can fill. It is not about the chocolate (although you are right it can't hurt),the flowers,or hearts. It is sharing the love He shows us with the people He as placed in our lifes. He is our perfect Valentine. The missing piece that makes our hearts whole. What a peaceful and fuzzy feeling that gives me. Thank you for that wonderful reminder.
Michelle H
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