The Lovey Dovey Holiday.

I pulled up into the Walmart parking lot this past Thursday evening, hoping to get some supplies for making my own Valentines at home. I regretted it immediately. Valentine's had thrown up all over the store. So many people crowded around the holiday section. Red, pink, and white hearts were everywhere. Men standing in lines with flowers, chocolates, and/or cards. The looks on some of their faces matched that of Katniss Everdeen's in the elevator scene in Catching Fire. (If you have no idea what you're talking about, look it up on YouTube.)

Walmart wasn't the only store like this. I went in to Harp's yesterday (Friday) morning to get some more things, and flowers and balloons were everywhere. Candy and chocolate were in huge bins all over the front of the store.

I also read in JBU's Threefold Advocate newspaper some statistics about Valentine's day. One in particular caught my eye: 53% of women would break off the relationship with their significant other if they didn't receive anything for Valentine's day. That. Is. Ridiculous.

Why did Valentine's day have to become so materialistic? Since when did flowers, candy, and a card become the standard Valentine's gift for women? When did it become all about us in receiving gifts and having the ultimate lovey dovey night with a boyfriend or girlfriend? While I do appreciate getting that special time with my boyfriend, wasn't Valentine's day meant to be for something a little deeper than that?

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Valentine's day. I loved it even before my boyfriend and I started dating. I hear my single friends cringe as the day draws near every year. I remember what it was like to be single on that day, but I was never terribly bitter about not having a boyfriend. I always had fun with friends that day, whether it was a party or just hanging out, I dressed up in red and did my hair a little nicer, I exchanged silly valentines with my friends... I always seemed to have a really good day despite me being single. So, to all the single ladies and gents out there: it IS possible to really love Valentine's day as a single person.

Something that I've had to learn over past couple of years is that it brings me more joy to give to others than it is to get anything. That is something that God has worked through me on, and I am grateful that He has. I've figured out just recently that love languages are SUPER important; of course they show love to other people (duh), but it shows people that you care about them in some little way. I've also discovered that some people have different love languages that they like to give others, and ones that they would rather receive than give. For me, my 2 love languages that I love to give to others is acts of service and gifts. Both of them seem to go hand-in-hand. I know I have a problem with spending my money too quickly. Sometimes it's for something I want/like, but some of the time, it's because I see something my friends would like or that I could make for them, and so I put my money towards whatever that is to give it to them. I am also always asking what I could be doing for other people, because to me personally, it shows that I am willing to put time and effort into doing something that they need someone to do or want someone to do for them. It's interesting, because even though I really like giving those love languages towards other people, those really aren't my top ones that I'd like for people to give to me. Everyone is different, though.

So, I guess here's a tip: Learn one or two of your top love languages that you like to give towards others, and then do something about it! I know that when I do things/give things to others, it gives me great happiness and joy, and I feel like I've made a small impact in someone's life. This enables you, sometimes forces you to not think about yourself, and instead think of other people. 

Because that's what Valentine's day is REALLY supposed to be about: letting others know how much you care about them and how much they mean to you. 

This reflects Christ's character completely! He came not to be served but to serve others. Philippians 2 explains in detail how Christ was a servant. In v. 3-4, it says:

³ Do nothing ^[c]from ^[d]selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; ⁴ do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

We as Christ's followers ought to act with humility towards each other and look out for others' needs. Paul continues in v. 5-#:

⁵ Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. ⁸ Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹ For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Christ became a man, wrapped in pathetic, fallen flesh, to empty Himself and humble Himself by dying on the cross so that we might have a relationship with Him forever and be able to have communion with God. This is the perfect picture of a servant: expecting nothing in return when making the ultimate sacrifice for those He loves. How wonderful is that?!

I hope that you have gained somewhat of a better perspective on Valentine's day. I hope that you learn to love it like I have. Let us give to each other and love one another, as He loves us. Let us draw near to Jesus and His love and mercy. Let us rest in that fact.