A Valentine for my Valentines
I said a valentine prayer for you and asked the Lord above to bless your heart and bless your soul With the precious gift of love.
I asked Him for sincere love
The kind that’s meant to stay
Just like the generous love
You give to those you touch each day.
Then I asked the Lord to give you
His love that knows no end.
Happy (belated) Valentines Day! Some have a negative opinion of this day. I suppose they think it too commercial, just a rouse made up by Hallmark to make big sales. Maybe they do revel in the chance to make bank off of our feelings, but in my mind any day that reminds us to love and share love is positive!
First a history lesson, St. Valentine was a priest in Rome, he along with St. Marius helped to assist martyrs who were being persecuted under Claudius II. Valentine was captured by the emperor and sent to the prefect of Rome, when he refused to renounce his faith, he was beaten with clubs and beheaded on Feb. 14th around 270 (269). There begins the Valentines’ Day. Jesus says “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” John 15:13 What a better Valentine could we hope to find than a man of God that died for his faith? He is the Patron Saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travelers, and young people.So in the spirit of St. Valentine fighting, dying for his friends I write you about love this Valentine’s.
My message for this blog and my message for life is #loveoneanother. I truly believe that the more we can adhere to that simple yet at times very difficult command, the world -our world -will be a better place. Here in Alabama we have begun passing out marriage licenses to same sex couples. There is a fear by many that this will lead to the breakdown of traditional marriage, that this will open the door for more things outside of human couplings. There are those that feel this is a break from what the scriptures teach us is good and holy. This is the thing, even if this is the “truth” which I do not believe it is, but will allow for the argument sake. What will being angry and ugly do for the cause? Will I as a gay or lesbian come running to you? Your church? Will I suddenly repent and go to some retreat to become un-gay? We know this can lead to suicide or maybe worse these souls find themselves distraught they seek out other means of comfort like drugs and alcohol which many times leads to death. Read the Robertson’s story. What if you loved instead?
What if for one second you concentrated on LOVE. What if LOVE was enough? I challenge you to go forth loving your neighbor as unconditionally as you possibly can and leave all the check marks to God. Be a Valentine all year, stand up for your brothers and sister in Christ.
I hope when I get to heaven, if I should make it there, he/she will say “You just loved too much!”
Episcopal Lotus Flower in Bloom 