Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. Vast quantities of chocolate will be purchased and given, frequently in heart-shaped boxes. Valentine’s cards will be slipped onto desks in school, placed in obvious locations in homes, or shipped through the mail – all to the great joy of Hallmark. Red roses will be flying off the shelves, delivered as a single bloom, or as part of a bouquet that is as large as one’s wallet can afford. For many, there will also be romantic meals and love-themed gifts. As the day that we have been programmed to celebrate romance, Americans will pull out the stops on Valentine’s Day to let that special someone in our life know that we are enamored by them.
Now, don’t get me wrong about the importance of Valentine’s Day, but I can’t help but wonder if we put too much emphasis on showing our love one day each year, to the detriment of the other 364 days. This isn’t like other important days throughout the year such as birthdays that are necessarily associated with a specific date. This particular day is all about demonstrating an emotional connection that, in a healthy relationship, exists every day. While I’m not the most romantic fellow, I do try to make sure that my wife knows how much I love her, and I know that she likes to hear that from me more than one time each year.
From my perspective, it runs the risk of being like those folks who are certain to attend church for Christmas and Easter, but otherwise spend their Sundays doing whatever else they want to do. Sure, it is helpful to have a day on the calendar to remind us to do the right thing at least once a year, but if we need that day to remind us and prompt us to attend to it, is the underlying relationship as strong as it should be?
In several places in the Old Testament writings, such as Isaiah 1, Psalms 40, and Micah 6, the writers tell us that the grandiose offerings are not the displays of affection that God seeks. Instead, what God desires is the daily behaviors such as doing that which is right, having mercy on others, and simply walking humbly with Him. Not only during the holy days of the year, but every single day.
I hope that your Valentine’s Day will be a day when a loved one shares their affection for you in some tangible way, and all the better if they can lavish you with flowers, chocolates, cards, and other treats. But more than that, I hope that you are in a relationship where love is expressed every day, particularly in ways that don’t involve stimulating the local economy and emptying your bank account. A tender hug, helping with a household chore, or even a playful email or text message can go a long way to keep a relationship strong, so that you don’t need to go overboard with an extravagant offering to maintain calm in your relationship. Do the little things regularly, and the other gifts will just be icing on the cake.
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron