Valentine’s Day or Singleness Awareness Day, what do you prefer? I must admit I tend to get rather cynical around this day. It’s not the I desire to be in a relationship or am unsatisfied by what God has given me right now, it just seems that there is something deeply engrained in my human nature that hates it when other people are happy because of something I don’t have. “I don’t want a boyfriend right now so you shouldn’t either.” Hmm the logic fails me.
The real shame is the fact that Valentine’s Day has become boiled down to couples sending each other flowers. Is that really the climax of the day or only way to celebrate it? I was struck by how incredibly blessed I was this weekend to spend Valentine’s Day with my family who are in fact my real valentines! Why don’t I see this wonderful weekend as just as special and joyful as receiving wilted flowers and fattening chocolate…
Hmm that sounded rather bitter, it was meant to be a humorous perspective shift… sorry. Anyways, moving on, this weekend I had the opportunity to meet another gift, a newborn little girl the first child of my childhood friend. And again I was struck by how gifts and blessing come in all shapes and sizes not just heart shaped boxes.
Wal-Mart seems to believe they have the monopoly on “love.” Did you see that ghastly aisle full of red and pink, no wonder gentlemen are scared of this holiday. I was slightly intimidated myself. But the truth of the matter is, we should be showing our love and appreciation of people in our lives everyday. Why do I have to wait until the calendar reminds me to tell my family how much I love them? And why do I assume showing love to someone other than a boyfriend or husband is in some way an inferior way to spend the holiday?
I was challenged several weeks ago by a friend mentioning how she just couldn’t wait until Valentine’s Day to make a special meal for all her roommates and “lavish them with love.”
The Apostle Paul exhorts single women to make the most of their singleness because it’s a gift from God. We are able to focus more time and energy on pleasing God and blessing others for Him. I believe both God and the Apostle Paul would be very pleased with my friend’s enthusiasm for this Valentine’s day. But again the question arose in my mind or why I and everyone else feels that Valentine’s Day should bring about something extra special. As Christians, aren’t we called to love everyone all the time, showing that love to the detriment of ourselves, all the time? I know I need to rethink how I am using my singleness and showing my love to others all week long not just on Valentine’s Day.
About Me
- Elisabeth
- I am a junior in the Elementary Education program at Western Washington University, majoring in Language, Literacy, and Cultural Studies. This major includes an endorsement in TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) and reading. With these certificates and endorsements I hope to end up teaching overseas, preferably in Asia. After a two month mission trip teaching English Thailand I developed a passion for underprivileged girls and women. Teaching English and sharing the truth of God's love, offers hope to women in potentially hopeless situations. I cannot wait to complete my teaching degree and see where the next step takes me!
