What Does Valentine Mean to You



Show True Love
Valentine is here again, the day set aside to celebrate pure love demonstrated by a Priest known as Valentine when hedisobeyed Emperor Claudius II’s decree that Soldier must remain unmarried.    Claudius handed down this decree believing that soldiers would be distracted by their wives and will not be able to concentrate on fighting if they are to be married or engaged.  Valentine defiled the orders of the Emperor and performed marriage ceremonies for couples secretly.  As a result of this defiance, Valentine was put to death on February 14.  After his death, he was made a Saint.

As Christianity spread through Rome, the priests moved the feast of Lupercalia (a pre Roman Pastoral Festival to avert spirits and purify the city, releasing health and fertility.  It was also for pairing of young men and women) to February 14 and named it St. Valentine’s Day to honor St Valentine.

Today, Valentine’s Day means many things to many people.  To some, it is a day to give and receive gifts.  They look forward to beautiful gifts that will leave lasting impression in their lives.  Expectations are always very high among couples and not getting a gift from a partner is always regarded as not showing love.

To many it is a day of Indulgence.  This is mostly practiced by singles; they indulge in all kinds of things including immoralities all in the name of Valentine.  Some will go as far as losing their virginity in order to secure a Val.

To others it is a day to seal their love.  Many marriage proposals are done on this day and those with trouble and broken marriages finds it a suitable day to renew their vows and restore peace in their homes.

These are some of the reasons why people celebrate Valentine but to you, what does valentine mean.

To me Valentine day is a symbol of true and selfless love.  True love entails total self giving as Christ did on the cross of Calvary.  True love has no selfish interest; it is not hateful or self servicing.  It has no end.

Love is man’s true nature as man was created in love that is why it is said that man is the product of self diffusive goodness of God’s love.  Therefore man is mandated to love and live in love (1 John 3:11) ‘Love One Another’.   This is why every man celebrates and desire love irrespective of religion and age.

As we celebrate this year’s Valentine’s Day, let us purify our love so that we can have a better relationship, better marriage, better faith practices and eventually a better world.