Guest Writer: On Valentine’s Day

Posted in Lady of the House - 14 February 2007 - 3 comments

By my dear friend, Jessica Novikoff, received in an email yesterday and used with permission:

Once again, it’s that time of the year. That time of over-priced roses and crappy chocolate. That time when the singles are, well, singled out as the ones with glaring and gloomy faces. Yes, it’s Valentine’s Day. Or, as others so cynically put it, Singles Awareness Day.

But, most of you know that I LOVE Valentine’s Day. I will wear red or pink or both. I will proudly display my heart socks. And, I will hum a little Frank throughout the day. So, I am writing my yearly Valentine’s Day rant. You know, the one that explains my love for Valentine’s Day and my positive hatred of Valentine’s Day cynicism. So, this is for all of you who miss my rant!

In my humble opinion, Valentine’s Day should be considered a high holy day in the Christian calender. What could possibly be more glorious than a day dedicated to love? But, I am not talking about the sappy girlfriend/boyfriend love. Valentine’s Day should remind us of the true Lover of our souls. The flowers and the chocolates and the colors should make us yearn for something more. That something that we find in the eternal love of our heavenly Husband. That love in turn should express itself through us towards others. Consider some Scripture:

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. I John 4:7-21 (see also Hosea)

This, my dear friends, is why we celebrate Valentine’s Day. Remember the love that God has for you, the love that pursues you, wins you, and sustains you. Remember how God the Spirit “doth make his temple in thy breast” as John Donne puts it. As you struggle and wrestle with the sin that never seems to go away, comfort your soul with the love of Jesus Who withstood the temptation for you. Rest in the arms of your Savior as He rocks you in His love. Comfort those around you with the love of Christ and wear a little bit of red, just for me.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

  • Jessica

3 Responses to Guest Writer: On Valentine’s Day

  1. Matt Winckler says:
    February 14, 2007 at 2:43 pm

    Well written. However, I thought that’s what Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, St. Patrick’s Day, Sundays, good cheese, and the alarm clock were for.

    I wore blue. Heaven forbid that I be mistaken for a sappy sentimentalist, and today of all days, were I to wear red, there would be no questions – only assumptions.

    – A Hearty Valentine’s Day Cynic

  2. Mystie says:
    February 14, 2007 at 8:54 pm

    This from the man who purposefully waited until 3 days AFTER Valentine’s Day to propose.

    And that from the woman who can’t remember if it was 2 or 3 or 4 days afterwards. :) If I hadn’t made the Valentine’s connection at the time I’m not even sure I’d remember what month you proposed. We make a good match.

  3. GaryP aka Dad says:
    February 16, 2007 at 1:33 am

    I miss the Novikoffs! Jess, say hi to your dad for me.

    And Mystie, remember, your grandfather would scrounch flowers from the dumpster next to the flower shop for your grandmother, whether it was valentines day or not.