ValentinesDay.htm

Happy Valentine's

Day!

"I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." Jeremiah 31:3

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: ...a time to love."
Ecclesiastes 3: 1 & 8

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."
1 John 4: 7

I am a true romantic person at heart; I will not deny it! I love anything heart shaped, and I LOVE Valentine's day! I own a few heart shaped items, some of which were given to me by my husband, on past Valentine days. He also has given me a few cute bears holding hearts. Each February, I dig them out of the closet, and put them on display. This is one of the ways I have of reminding myself of his love for me.

My dear husband is not very romantic at all. It took me a few years to get used to this! The first year we were married, I expected a large box of chocolates, or a bouquet of flowers, to be waiting for me on the table in the morning. Nothing! Then I thought, well, he is a busy man. Maybe when he comes home from work, he will bring me something, and surprise me.

I waited expectantly at the door that night. He came in empty handed! I thought he didn't care! The truth is, he forgot. As a very young wife, I burst into tears. Of course, he felt bad, and I'm sure he couldn't understand me at all. He did go out after supper, and brought me a heart shaped box of chocolates. He was very apologetic, too.

It's odd how women want to be loved like this! But true love is much deeper than outward signs. I have found this much out in my married life. Dear Robert shows his love for me in a deeper way than that of giving chocolates or flowers! As I write this, he is out in the pouring rain, grocery shopping. That's real love.

Many times when I am suffering with migraine headaches, he will make the supper. He also has been known to vacuum, do the dishes, take care of Matthew, and he is always ready to run any errand that I ask of him. He usually makes me a cup of tea after supper and gives me a long back rub. He does all this without complaining. That's real love.

I am so thankful I have a dear, sweet husband who loves me, and shows it in many ways. I can see a reflection of God's love for me in this, and it is very comforting.

Following are a few of my favourite poems about love, and a brief history of Valentine's Day. Remember that I believe we can turn anything that was once "pagan", into something good!

Romance

I will make you brooches and toys for your delight
Of bird-song at morning and star-shine at night.
I will make a palace fit for you and me,
Of green days in forests and blue days at sea.

I will make my kitchen, and you shall keep your room,
Where white flows the river and bright blows the broom,
And you shall wash your linen and keep your body white
In rainfall at morning and dewfall at night.

And this shall be for music when no one else is near,
The fine song for singing, the rare song to hear!
That only I remember, that only you admire,
Of the broad road that stretches and the roadside fire.

-by Robert L. Stevenson

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O, no! it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wand'ring bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom:--
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

--by William Shakespeare

A Brief History of Valentine's Day:

I have been gathering a bit of information about Valentine's Day, and how we have come to celebrate it. Hundreds of years ago, in Roman times, Lupercalia was a day that honoured the mythological goddess of feverish love. Inappropriate behaviour and love notes were a part of the celebration, and the day was geared around fertility.

Early Christians did not celebrate in this way, of course. They wanted to remember and honour saints from earlier times on this day, and eventually these saints were replaced by Saint Valentine. I find it interesting that all our holidays were once pagan, but don't forget, they are our ancestors, they lived in darkness, and they celebrated in the only way they knew.

Apparently there are at least three possibilities for Saint Valentine, all of them martyrs for the faith on February 14. One was a priest in Rome and another was the Bishop of Intermna. The third saint was martyred in Africa, and very little is known of him.

Valentine was a doctor that prayed for his patients. During the reign of Claudius II Gothicus, Valentine was put in prison for his Christian faith. While he was there, the warden's blind daughter visited him. Valentine taught her scripture, Christian doctrine, and other subjects. Claudius II had Valentine martyred for the faith on February 14, 270 AD.

Valentine had written a farewell note to the jailer's daughter signed, "Your Valentine". In 496, Pope Gelasius I officially put St. Valentine's Day on the calendar.

Centuries later, during the 1800's, people began to send Valentine cards to one another. I am not sure of the exact date this occurred. Some of them were very elaborate and beautiful, and have become quite valuable today.

I think this is a sweet custom, even if you don't have a sweetheart! You can always remember your best friend, Mother, sister, neighbour, cousin, aunt, co-worker, etc. Everyone loves to receive a pleasant surprise! It doesn't have to be expensive. This year, I plan to make a few very large heart shaped cookies to give away. Whatever you do, have fun!

You might like to read my own romance story!
Click Here.

(the border is from "Backgrounds Etc", the "calling card" is from http://www.geocities.com/wellesley/8301)