Thursday, February 5, 2009

Valentine's Day: Say, “I Love You” to Someone Today



“But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:9

February is the month of love. A lot of people think Hallmark thought up Valentine’s Day, but few know how it really originated.

One legend says Valentine was a priest during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When his actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to another legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that he fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression still in use today.

Since America has been at war, there is a heightened awareness of the fragility of life. If you haven’t told your spouse, your children, or your loved ones you love them, why not do it today? We don’t know what tomorrow holds or even if there will be a tomorrow and of course the Lord could return at any moment for His Church.

Even if you don’t have a sweetheart, perhaps you can think of someone who could benefit from an expression of love from you. Just think – there may be someone in your life who won’t be hugged or told someone loves him or her if you don’t take the initiative.

What about your church family? What is one of the ways we know we are in the body of Christ? I John 4:7 says, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”

Lastly, but most importantly, I want to tell the Savior of my soul, the Maker of my heart and the Creator of love itself that I love Him.

Say, "I love you" to someone today!

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for all those who love me, and for the privilege of loving others. Most of all, I thank You, God, for Your love, mercy, and grace shown through Jesus Christ.

Donna J. Shepherd © 2007 All rights reserved. No portion of this Website may be reproduced by Crossmap or any other website without dated written permission from Donna. - Thanks!

*First posted 2-14-06

8 comments:

  1. I loved this devotional; with the subject being love! A song from the 70's tells it all..."What the world needs now is love sweet love.."

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  2. Beautiful, inspiring post, Donna. Hey, I love you, friend. Happy Valentine's Day

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  3. Oh, I should check out the comments more often! Thanks so much for stopping by. I am always so blessed when my friends take time to leave comments - and such nice ones, too! Made my day!

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  4. Blessings, Donna!

    I will take to heart this sweet post. God is love and I want to be like Him. I see you are still pressing on, bringing sweet posts to the heart. God bless you. Maybe we'll cross paths at CCWL. I have been doing a lot of lurking lately!
    God bless!

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  5. Lovely post, Donna. A message we should take to heart every day of the year.

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  6. Lovely post, Donna. A message we should take to heart every day of the year.

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  7. Hi, Donna. I just found your blog today and was so blessed by your Valentine's Day post. The thought of how I treat a person -- whether I tell them I love them as you discuss or whether I even simply smile -- has been on my heart over the course of the last year or so. It's hard to imagine that an "I love you" directed at someone I barely know could have such an impact, but sadly, in our world today there are too many people that hear that altogether too little.

    I'm looking forward to reading more in the future. God Bless You!

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  8. Hey, Donna! Beautiful post and written from a heart of love. Thank you for reminding us all to share the love we have received. Bless you...

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