Valentine’s Day, what are we celebrating?

Valentine’s Day, what are we celebrating? The holiday comes with a $25+ billion price tag. There must be some credibility to the expression Happy Valentines day! But where did it come from?

Back in the 3rd century, on two separate occasions, Emperor Claudius II executed two priests both named Valentine on February 14. At least one of them was executed for secretly marrying couples who were in love. It was the tradition at the time that single men made better soldiers so the law was to remain single. So “love” does play a part in the foundation.

Cards and flowers and chocolates have become the traditional method in our western society to express our love romantically, but two priests literally were martyred, beheaded, to bring lovers into right standing before God and the church.

Perhaps, today we could take a similar stance when it comes to the importance of our legal covenant between our spouse, ourselves and God. Can I stand firm on the original design that God initiated in the garden and passionately and creatively love my spouse everyday of the year? With no fear of execution, it really is not that big of an ask.

I propose that we seek everyday to make a big splash in the hearts of our spouses and bring marriage back to its rightful position: worth dying for.

Happy Honeymooning!

Genesis 2:23 “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”

Mark 10:7 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife” as quoted by Jesus (also Matthew 19:5)

Ephesians 5:31 ”For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”