Valentine's Day is named after St. Valentine. This is obvious and common knowledge. That being sad, who was St. Valentine, and what did he do to deserve a holiday, particularly the one he has?
According to Wikipedia (the ultimate source of human knowledge), St. Valentine could be any of 14 different people. Valentine was a common name, being Latin for "strong." However, he is believed to probably be a man who was imprisoned for illegally performing Christian wedding ceremonies and later killed as a result of his attempt to convert the emperor to Christianity. It seems obvious that he would then have the love holiday.
But let us consider this holiday: it is generally focused on a man performing an annual big gesture for his woman of choice, whomever she may be. This big gesture often takes the form of a romantic evening, along with perhaps roses and a heart-shaped box of chocolates.
And then the day ends. For the next 364 days, the couple will not go on a date. The flowers need not fear, as they have 364 days before they will again be cut. And the chocolate will now take the shape of eggs and rabbits, looking forward to the next chocolate-based gift-giving holiday, Easter. And somehow I simply don't think this is a love for which St. Valentine would have been willing to be imprisoned.
Ephesians 5:25 says, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." Christ gave his very life for the church. Loving is not something to do one day a year. Instead, it is a perpetual matter. And when this becomes part of your lifestyle, suddenly 14 February is just another day in which you love your wife.
Bonus:
Here is a video of a poem that in my mind is related, in that trying to love your wife only one day a year is as ridiculous as trying to repay your mother with a lanyard.
The Lanyard, by Billy Collins
Valentine's Day is named after St. Valentine. This is obvious and common knowledge. That being sad, who was St. Valentine, and what did he do to deserve a holiday, particularly the one he has?
According to Wikipedia (the ultimate source of human knowledge), St. Valentine could be any of 14 different people. Valentine was a common name, being Latin for "strong." However, he is believed to probably be a man who was imprisoned for illegally performing Christian wedding ceremonies and later killed as a result of his attempt to convert the emperor to Christianity. It seems obvious that he would then have the love holiday.
But let us consider this holiday: it is generally focused on a man performing an annual big gesture for his woman of choice, whomever she may be. This big gesture often takes the form of a romantic evening, along with perhaps roses and a heart-shaped box of chocolates.
And then the day ends. For the next 364 days, the couple will not go on a date. The flowers need not fear, as they have 364 days before they will again be cut. And the chocolate will now take the shape of eggs and rabbits, looking forward to the next chocolate-based gift-giving holiday, Easter. And somehow I simply don't think this is a love for which St. Valentine would have been willing to be imprisoned.
Ephesians 5:25 says, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." Christ gave his very life for the church. Loving is not something to do one day a year. Instead, it is a perpetual matter. And when this becomes part of your lifestyle, suddenly 14 February is just another day in which you love your wife.
Bonus:
Here is a video of a poem that in my mind is related, in that trying to love your wife only one day a year is as ridiculous as trying to repay your mother with a lanyard.
The Lanyard, by Billy Collins
I Would Do Anything for Love, But I Won't Celebrate Valentine's Day
No comments:
Post a Comment