Why I Love Valentine's Day

This post has been rattling around in my head for a while, but being stuck at home looking out my window at a winter wonderland has given me the chance to finally get it out.

This the view from my desk right now...SO pretty!

I love Valentine’s Day. I know it is so “commercialized” but what holiday isn’t anymore? I think any holiday is all what you make of it, where your focus is. And honestly, it’s our own fault holidays are “commercialized” because we buy the stuff! Companies see a way to make money and run with it. It’s smart business really.

Valentine’s Day also gets hated on because it’s about romantic love and single people feel left out. Heard of SAD? That’s Singles Awareness Day, a popular nickname for Valentine’s Day. Again, though, any holiday (any day at all, really) is what you make of it. I remember all too well feeling left out. I knew I could either let myself wallow in self-pity, or make Valentine’s Day about more than romantic love!

So that’s what I did. As a result, Valentine’s Day became one of my favorite holidays! Here’s why…

1.     I’m super mushy and girly on the inside. I love the whimsy and romance that come with Valentine’s Day. I love hearts, and all things pink and red. Valentine’s Day means I get to celebrate that without feeling too silly.

2.     I love love. Not just the warm fuzzy feelings (though those are nice too!) but true love. God is love. He loved us enough to send His son as a sacrifice for our sins. If you’re a Christian you’ve heard/read that statement countless times, but I want you to stop and let it sink in for a minute…God loved you so much that He sacrificed His son for you…WOW. That just blows me away! And then Jesus tells us to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

3.     I get to celebrate and love on the people I love. I should definitely do this more than one day a year, and I try to, but Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to do a little extra celebrating. My family is amazing, and I’m so incredibly grateful for them. My parents have always given me a great example of how to love your spouse, and your family. They’re a big part of the reason Valentine’s Day is more than romantic love to me. They always made me feel loved on Singles Awareness Day and realizing how many people DO love me helped me to not feel so bad.

4.     I get to celebrate my marriage! I could write for days on the importance of constantly tending to my marriage. It is my most treasured relationship with another human, and the one I guard most diligently. I love that Valentine’s Day gives me a chance to celebrate with my husband, and an excuse to be a little silly and lighthearted. I tend to be very serious, and I want to lighten up a little, but it’s hard for me to do just randomly without a reason. So Valentine’s Day gives me the perfect chance to practice!

5.     And finally…chocolate! Need I say more?

I challenge you this Valentine’s Day to make it about more than romantic love. Whether you have a significant other or not, I challenge you to think about how many people love you, and most importantly that God loves you. I challenge you to focus on the people you love, focus on blessing them, and I promise you won’t regret it!