Faith Warrior: CHALLENGE ACCEPTED #7

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

FEBRUARY

Looking back surviving the dreaded month of love wasn't too bad. I thought it was going to be a personal hell, but avoidance seem to work in my favor this time around. Not that I avoided the occasion, I didn't. Instead of being bitter and sad, well - I still was down, a little - but, I figured that it was a celebration of love right? Valentine's Day is suppose to be all about sharing time with the people you love. So, I figured why not! It isn't defined by a significant other, someone you are sexually tied to, or even sending something to your secret crush. This day has evolved into the celebration of love, to the simplest form. Children in school send little Valentine's greetings to their classmates, parents and children exchange their greetings with more zest on this day. But, this had me thinking, why not reach out and just extend a greeting of happiness for the day.

"And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." Luke 10:27

Surviving Valentine's Day

We know Valentine's Day to be the day that cards and tokens of love are exchanged all in the name of romance, right? There are different theologies about the origin of Valentine's Day. Some associate that the day is linked to different Saints named Valentinus. One Saint was of legend to have penned the first Valentine's card, hence why it is the second most card given calendar event. Another Saint, against the law of the time that single soldiers could not marry, secretly went against that law and preformed marriages. Other theologies of the holiday say that Valentine's Day was created to extinguish a pagan holiday about fertility. To educate yourself about the origins of Valentine's Day visit the History website by clicking here.

"Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:8

I believe understanding origins is not only educating yourself, but it's also giving you more insight. Growing up I believed that this holiday was for couples only and if you didn't have a significant other it was a day that you spent feeling sorry for yourself. No more. I bought myself some Valentine's goodies as well as some for friends. I also sent cards to people that I thought might need a little pick-me-up on the day. To me, these were acts of kindness, and through that kindness demonstrates a little love. I read recently a devotional where it discussed how we have to chose to be happy. We have to diligently keep our minds away from those negative thought patterns. I am wildly guilty of this and I know it is easier said than done for most of us. For instance, this Valentine's Day I didn't chose to watch romantic movies, I chose things that would keep my mind active in other ways (I actually decided to tackle reading Stephen King's IT, quite the undertaking). I could have watched the dozen or so romantic themed movies that were airing for Valentine's, but I chose my happiness over the trap that society has built in being single on Valentine's Day.

"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ." Colossians 2:8

Food for Thought

As I was over-analyzing past relationships and other things today, I think I was blessed with an epiphany. How we feel after a break-up might just be how God feels when we turn away from Him.
With this in mind please make sure to leave a comment, what did you do or how did you celebrate Valentine's Day this year, and any other thoughts that come to mind.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6