Valentine’s Day. This holiday has never really meant that much
to me. Yes, I got little Valentine’s Day cards while in elementary school, and
I receive something from my family every year. However, since I have been single for
most of my life and Valentine’s Day tends to revolve around couples, I
always try to celebrate love and push the romantic aspect of the day out of my mind.
Recently, I read a book on welcoming and including singles
in the church. One of the author’s main points was learning to love others and
include others in your life that aren’t in the same stage of life as you are.
This idea struck me, especially so close to Valentine’s Day. Why does this
holiday have to center so much on romantic love? Why can’t it be more about love: the
love of family, the love of friendship, the love of mentorship, and the love of
people? As human beings, we were made for companionship. We need each other,
whether we are married or single. We all could always have one more friend,
someone to get to know and with whom to share life. Yes, it can be hard to get
to know new people, but take a chance. Reach out to someone that is different
than you are or someone in a contrasting time of life than you. They might teach
you something new, something about their struggles or their accomplishments, and,
who knows, they might need you just as much as you need them. Valentine’s Day
should be about love, not just romantic love.
For the first time since 1945, Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day. Ash Wednesday starts our Lenten journey. This solemn journey
starts with ashes, reminding us of who we are as humans and to dust we shall
return. But, at the end of this journey, we celebrate Christ’s redemptive work
of the cross in His glorious resurrection. Through Lent and Holy Week, we see
the greatest love story of all time unfold. Jesus Christ loves us so much that
He endured the cross, a brutal death, and took upon Himself our sin. He did
that for us, for YOU. No matter where we are in life or what we have done, we
can come to Him and receive His gift of love and redemption.
There isn’t any greater love than His. May we attempt to
begin to understand His love for us in our Lenten journey this year, and may we
strive to take it and give that love to the world.
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