validation

 

 

Well my dear ones,

 

 

 

It’s Valentine’s Day once again.

 

How did we come to associate love

with a Catholic saint martyred in the 3^rd Century?

 

Two priests named Valentine were martyred

on February 14th: Valentine of Rome in 269 A.D.

and Valentine of Terni in 273 A.D.

 

The first was said to have performed marriages

for soldiers (not allowed at that time)

as well as Christians (persecuted in that era).

 

You can see the history,

as well as some fun facts,

here:

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine%27s_Day

 

http://www.history.com/news/6-surprising-facts-about-st-valentine

 

 

So, the candy companies may owe a debt

to a 14^th Century writer.

Jack B. Oruch writes that the first recorded

association of Valentine's Day with romantic love

is in Parlement of Foules (1382)

by Geoffrey Chaucer. Chaucer wrote:

 

 

“For this was on seynt Volantynys day

 Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.”

 

(seynt = saint; chese = choose; make = mate;

 English was in a state of flux at the time)

 

Perhaps you are blessed as I am

to have an awesome mate,

someone to give you love and validation

on this designated day.

 

Yet if not, no worries;

you are still loved,

and more.

 

 

“For we are God’s masterpiece.

 He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,

 so we can do the good things

 he planned for us long ago.”

 

Ephesians 2:10(NLT)

 

 

That’s some heavy stuff;

basically, it says that

we are more important

than any other thing God created;

hence, we are loved by God above all else,

with a love that we may apprehend,

yet will never be able to comprehend

...at least not in this lifetime.

 

Personally, I find that pretty cool,

and I need no more validation than that. =)

 

So, Happy Valentine’s Day to all!

And please pass that on to whomever

you may run across who needs

a little boost in their life.

 

Have a blessed week!

 

grace, peace, and love to you,

dave