VALENTINE'S DAY IS OVERRATED

Don't get me wrong. Of course, I love Valentine's Day. Doesn't everybody? Certainly, the credit card companies love it, the candy companies, the flower shops and of course, the greeting card companies, absolutely LOVE Valentine's Day. I'm sure there are many other companies as well, such as jewelry stores, that love this day. Unfortunately, they love it and want us to love it because they make their money; especially on this day or in preparation for it. Sadly, its about the love of money.

What happens in many relationships is that Valentines Day is actually a great day. Husbands and wives respond to one another with time, a date, gifts, kind words, and even sex. Even if the relationship has been horrid all year, somehow "love" is restored on February 14th. This is, of course, "par for the course", as the our world's system emphasizes the kind of love that comes and goes; even the kind of love that can be dormant or neglected for long periods of time, but then "bought" back with extravagant gifts during certain times of the year.

For those who claim the name of Christ, love is all together diferent; or at least should be. The love we are to pursue is not natural, easy, or even understood (let alone appreciated) by others.
There is no better way to describe this kind of love than the way God describes it:

I Corinthians 13:4-8

• Love is patient
• Love is kind
• Love does not envy
• Love does not boast
• Love is not arrogant
• Love is not rude
• Love does not insist on its own way
• Love is not irritable
• Love is not resentful
• Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing
• Love rejoices in the truth
• Love bears all things
• Love believes all things
• Love hopes all things
• Love endures all things
• Love never ends

This is my desire. This is the standard God has set for us. Forget the one day efforts. Make this an every day challenge - a journey. You will need God's help; and the support of others. The greatest Valentine's Day we could give to our spouses is to commit to love them biblically. What a difference this would make in our marriages, in our families, in our communities. What if our country decided to love God's way?

Happy Valentine's Day to my beautiful bride, Teresa. Honey, I have failed often; but, I am committed to pursuing this kind of love, as we seek God's blessing for our marriage. I love you!