“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
John 13:34
Happy Valentine’s Day Friends! ♥️
I absolutely adore Valentine’s Day- I always have.
Which to many is strange. Because in the traditional sense, I’ve always been single on Valentine’s Day.
I know, I know… but stick with me.
This is not a post to promote singleness or girl power- this is a post to tell you about one of my favorite love stories.
In other words- there’s this movie…
You may have watched it… though maybe not. My sisters and I checked it out of our church library about elementary age… on VHS.
The First Valentine – produced in 1989… viewed in our household circa 1997. (oh the nineties).
And yes, the movie reflects its age (and has my younger sister would tell you, some historical liberties as technically it is possible that two, if not three men named Valentinus were all executed on February 14th by the Roman Emperor). But the story it shares is life changing and the lesson timeless.
The story of Saint Valentine (at least one of them): A man who believed so much in the purpose and power and importance of love- he defied the ruling imperial power of the time, illegally marrying couples in the Roman Empire… not in the outskirts… but literally in and near Rome itself.
However, The First Valentine shows that this belief in love was not solely occupied by couples, but to humanity- regardless of age, ethnicity and disability- as our celebrated Saint gives the First Valentine to a young girl who is blind and therefore a societal outcast.
Like I said- possible historical liberties- but then again… anything is possible, and the legend prevails (check out the link below from History.com). 👩🏻💻
Summary, if nothing else I find the heart of the movie matches the hearts of the Saint(s) we celebrate today.
Saints martyred for their commitment to Love, sharing the Good News of Love revealed and to loving as Love loved.
Saints martyred for embracing and imparting Jesus.
Several years ago, I had a revelation, possibly from a seed which was planted by this 1990s, thirty minute-ish, movie (possibly available on Youtube).
Every Saint Valentine… every Saint Valentine we celebrate… was single…
… which means that the definition of a Valentine as I had understood it growing up- was not big enough.
Yes, you can be asked to be a Valentine- but you can also be a Valentine, voluntarily.
So today I want to ask you friends, to be a Valentine.
Love those around you. Babysit for the couple, send cards to your single friends letting them know you love them and tell the littles in your life how great they are. Smile at a stranger, hold the door open for a neighbor, pay for the car behind you in the fast food line and shower this world in every good thing- with every heartbeat. ♥️
I pray your day is filled with the knowledge and presence of a love that is ever present, uncompromising and completely encompassing. I pray that each of you recognize your value, which is priceless, and the importance of your existence which is celebrated in the heavens.
Your Father, Your Savior and Your Helper rejoice seeing you, no matter where you’re coming from. Their love for you is complete times eternity.
With all of those very important truths said- on a side note History.com which I mentioned above- provides a great, concise, history of Valentines Day which I encourage anyone who is curious to check out.
And after watching The First Valentine I highly recommend rewatching Kate and Leopold on Netflix- because what couple is more charming than young Meg Ryan and Hugh Jackman? 💁🏻♀️
Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash
