The 8 Shades of St Valentine!
From Wales to Washington, from Manila to Moldova Valentine's Day steals hearts and lights souls.
Valentine's Day enters the calendar from the earliest Christian traditions. (YEP - it is another annual Christian celebration.)
St Valentine was the patron saint of love, youth and happy marriages. He died in 269 AD. Legend strongly supports the belief he was martyred.
The feast of St Valentine (or Valentine's Day) began as a memorial on February 14, 469 AD to honor Christian martyrs. It was during the times of Geoffrey Chaucer (circa 1350) that St Valentine's Day was neatly married to the notions of romance and love.
'I wonder, could life really be a great love story set in the midst of war?' (John Eldredge)
The God of the Cross - Jesus that Divine warrior who descended from a perfect heaven to a strife-torn earth daily lives Valentine's Day because:
- He is still around for your birthday
- He will always surprise you with more than you give to Him
- He already knows your favorite gift might not be chocolate
- He delights in your smile 'cos it means your presence
- He sees your transparent heart and loves you all the more
- He doesn't care how romantic you are, what clothes you wear or what wine you drink
- His love blankets absolutely all your failures, pretenses or absences, and
- He really gives His life to you.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in Him. (1 John 4:16b)
Each day is Valentine's Day to the warrior God whose fabric is love.
Valentine's Day has been visible since His love was hammered high upon a Cross for you to see.
Today's Soul Snippet:
"Love is the glue of the universe, the yeast of grace and the breath of healing." ~ Michael Cartwright