Valentine’s day is almost here. In fact, as of the publication of this post, it’s just two days away.
This day can bring a wide variety of reactions from the general public, especially in my own age group. Many see it as the perfect date night; many see it as a holiday riding on the coattails of greeting card sales; many even see it as a day to mourn their singleness. I personally feel nostalgic when Valentines’ Day rolls around because of the fact that it’s my grandfather’s birthday.
When you think of Valentines’ Day, what’s one of the first things you think of – besides candy and hearts? Love, right? Let’s look at the Greatest Commandment, stated by Jesus Christ in Matthew 22:37-38: “Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’“
In this post, I’m going to talk about ways that we as Christian women can celebrate Valentines’ Day with our walks with Christ in mind.
1. Seize the opportunity to honor your spouse, but know that February 14th is not the only day to do so.
I’m not married, but I have seen the importance of honoring one’s spouse in special ways throughout my life from the example of my own parents and couples around me, especially in my own church family. Often, those gestures don’t take place around Valentine’s Day.
While making someone feel special because of a holiday is a great idea, it doesn’t have to solely be on that day. Calendar dates are only small blips on the radar of an entire lifetime, let alone an entire year. Love is a 24/7 action, and it can be freely given and received at any time. 1 Corinthians 13 is the ultimate example of this idea: “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a NKJV).
2. Instead of lamenting your singleness on Valentines’ Day, see it as a unique opportunity to love those around you.
Over the years, I’ve heard Valentines’ Day referred to as “Singles Awareness Day.” While that’s a clever name, if you spell it out as an acronym, it spells S.A.D. How can you be in the mindset to love others when you’re already referring to a day as “SAD”?
God gave unique opportunities to single men and women throughout the Bible. Paul is a shining example of how singleness can be used to further God’s kingdom, but one person we often don’t think of is Rahab. Her story, told in Joshua 2, is one of compassion towards two men she considered strangers at the time. She hid them amidst stalks of flax on her roof while the king of Jericho searched high and low for the Israelites who had come inside their walls. In return for her kindness, she was spared from the fall of Jericho. Also, she knew of the greatness of the Lord. She says in Joshua 2:9-11, “…I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.” She is later recognized in Hebrews for her actions: “ By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace” (Hebrews 11:31 NKJV).
We can learn from Rahab that God works through us when we show His love to others, no matter our occupation or marital status.
3. Love can spread like wildfire, regardless of the day; all it takes is a spark.
Now, what is that spark? It can be anything from a word, a tweet, a status, a text, or a private message, just to name a few. It can also be an act of service to someone in need. So, how does this relate to Valentine’s Day?
Remember when I mentioned the S.A.D. acronym and the general negative attitude sometimes associated with Valentines’ Day? What if we as Christians – especially we as Christian women – change that by spreading love via our social media or text messaging on February 14th? It’s an easy gesture to type up words on a screen, but if we take that opportunity, we may be able to make Valentines’ Day a positive day for those we reach, and if they spread that positive message, the impact may be even greater than we imagine.
Plus, spreading positivity, scripture, and encouragement doesn’t have to stop on Valentine’s Day. In 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11, Paul says, “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” Edification is a powerful thing, and when done regularly, Christ’s love can be shared through us.
In conclusion, Valentine’s Day is simply that: a day. It’s filled to the brim with red and pink candies and cards, but love is the underlying message it wants to convey to the wide audience of society. As Christians, we can spread love in this way, on February 14th and any other day of the year, and I guarantee it will have a longer-lasting impact than any Valentines Day will.
By Savannah Cottrell
