O Valentine!

HeLOVE there!

"What's all this fuss about?" some of you may wonder.

In fact Valentine's Day has been commercialized to the extent where one actually feels it necessary to stand one's ground and refuse to succumb to all this 'madness': What with all the red hearts, bows, arrows, cupids, roses and what-not? 
Businesses keep offering discounts and deals, radio stations keep playing love songs one week ahead, dances and dinner parties are organized, hotels offer special rates, the whole world goes frantically 'RED'! 

But what is the message hidden under all of this? 
Is there a message in the first place? 

This is what I think:

After all the 14th of February is actually the feast day of St. Valentine of Rome who had blessed the marriage of soldiers despite the law not allowing it, and for those soldiers he would truly have been a cupid! 
Come to think of it, one should appreciate the need of the soldiers to 'get married' in front of the Lord instead of living with a woman anyway while abiding by the law and not getting married.

And for his efforts, I believe 'Marriage' should be celebrated on this day. 
At least a simple sitting together with your spouse and thanking the Lord for the togetherness He has allowed between the two of you. 

And if a generous husband would want to take his lady out for a special dinner or a dance, I for one am all for it! 
Therefore:
- Kudos to the hotels that give offers and organize romantic dinners
- Much love to the florists who encourage my husband to buy a bunch of roses for me 
- Praise the Lord for the jewelers that allow at least a 5% discount on those gorgeous stones!
and

- For the many other businesses that decide Valentine's Day should be celebrated. 

Secondly, for the same reason, I do believe it is the perfect day for a Marriage Proposal: This is showing that two people want to commit to each other for life! Isn't that what those soldiers wanted too? 
So I wish all you lucky couples out there much LOVE and JOY in the togetherness you hope to enjoy! 

And finally, let me narrate a little incident a friend of mine related to me last Saturday. 

My friend had been sleeping with her daughter the night of Feb 13th, coz the poor girl was not feeling well. On the 14th this little girl wakes up as her mother (my friend) sits next to her in bed stroking her head, and asks; "Mom, when is the 14th?" 
"Today, darling" my friend answers.
"O no! I couldn't finish the card I was making for you and Dad!" the little girl exclaims, her face dropping with dissapointment. 

"That's what Valentine is all about" my friend tells me, as I feel a strong sense of warmth welling up in me. 

Does it not sound rational then to claim that St. Valentine's Day is also the day you celebrate the love of the Fruits of Marriage - Children! 

Love felt for another person isn't one which could be confined to a single day, of course not. But as part of loving each other everyday, may this day be one that encourages us to make sure that the other person knows he/she hasn't been taken for granted and that this day is yet another beautiful day to treasure in his/her memory... 

Till I blog again

Love
~Portia~

P.S. Thank You St. Valentine and through your intercession may those who search for love, find it! Amen.