Faces on Faith: Guess who loves you!
Red roses, chocolates, lacy valentines and love notes are all indications that Valentine’s Day will soon arrive. As far back as the 15th century, courtly love was thriving, but it was in 19th century England that greeting cards in the shape of hearts, doves, and the winged Cupid became popular. Of course, the availability of the Internet has dramatically changed how these messages of love are sent. Now we can create a digital Valentine message of love and sent it around the world.
But during this time when thoughts of love and romance abound, if you’re in a loving relationship, Valentine’s Day can be a good thing, but what if there’s no valentine in either your mailbox or your computer’s inbox? What if your favorite valentine has passed on and you’re single again, feeling the loss rather than the love?
Even during this time of desperation, turning to God always helps. “God?,” you say? Does he send Valentine chocolates and roses? No, you’ll have to pick up the candy and flowers yourself, but God loves you and is always sending you Valentine messages of love.
God is always speaking to us, sharing suggestions and concepts for us to consider. And as his creation, each of us is capable of hearing his message. Since “God is love,” as the Bible tells us in First John, wishing for love means looking to more fully express God’s love. As we understand ourselves to be the living expression of love, we expand our capacity to feel complete and whole. And when we feel closer to God, we feel closer to others. This might be the time to get ourselves and our feelings of loss out of the way and share the abundant love we all enjoy with someone else. First John continues, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” Let’s share the love we all possess with a card, or a sweet email, or even a hug and become a Valentine message of love for someone else to enjoy.
Mary L. Miller is affiliated with the Sanibel Christian Science Church.