Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day means a great deal more to me than bright red hearts and pink, lavender and green sweet tarts. It's more than red roses, a box of chocolates and a dinner out. (Although I do love the celebration!! I'm quite smitten with chocolates...;) ) 

Valentine's Day is a tribute of a man's life who was willing to stand in defense of marriage. The beauty behind Valentine's Day is of a man who, even though the King mandated there would be no marriages, for the king thought he would turn out better soldiers if they were not encumbered" with the sentiments of home and a family. 

I am deeply thankful to look back on history and see a man who despite an earthly king, bowed his inner heart to a Greater King. The King, Jesus Christ. 

So after performing many "in secret" marriages for young lovers, St Valentine's 

finds himself captured and imprisoned. Valentine's kindness and nobility of character attracts the attention of the jailer's daughter. Blind, she is drawn in sweetness of spirit to this kind man who in detail describes to her in full what flowers look like. 

He fervently prays for her sight.

And the amazing and beautiful detail in this lovely whole love story is that this jailer's daughter receives her sight. BUT the most amazing thing is, I like to think how she also received spiritual sight. 

A man, who honors God, measures every standard or law by God's...it is truly an outstanding sweet and tender love story. An agape one. All built around his love for God...

Later in the story, at the time of Valentine's death ordered by this earthly king, the jailer daughter finds a sweet note by "her Valentine". 

Is that not one of the most beautiful love story's ever? Isn't a man's love for his family really an outflow of his love for God? Is this not the richest and most honorable and heroic love ever?! Does it not remind us of an even longer ago absolute most sweetest love story ever recorded..."greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends". 

For God so loved our world that He really did send His only Son for us, to die in our place so that we can truly live! Our eternal life doesn't wait till we're in heaven. It starts right here, right now. I am challenged that my life, today, can be a constant living reflection of the Life of Jesus, His eternal life in me!!!

Have a blessed and tenderly sweet Valentine's with your families.