Valentine's Day is usually a day we celebrate love. We send flowers, candy, have a romantic dinner, and give funny cards. But do you know the original story of Valentine's Day? It is not a story about cards and gifts and chocolates or dinner dates.
In 269 Emperor Claudius II believed that men did not want to join the army because of their love and devotion to their wives and families, so he made an edict that all future marriages in Rome were forbidden. But a Christian priest named Valentinus decided that he had to do something. He began to secretly marry the soldiers before they went off to war, and went against the emperor’s orders. When Emperor Claudius found out about the secret ceremonies, he ordered that Valentinus be thrown into prison, tried, and put to death. St. Valentine sacrificed his life so that young couples could marry and experience the love they longed for. "They may have killed the man, but not his spirit. Even centuries after his death, the story of Valentine’s self-sacrificing commitment to love was legendary in Rome."
This is what Valentine's Day is really all about. If you want to have a Valentine's Day to remember, do something that communicates to your spouse that they are valuable, and that you are willing to sacrifice something to show how much you love them.
Truth to Ponder: This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16
Discuss Together: Discuss with each other how you can practically make sacrifices for your spouse. (Sacrifice the need to be right, sacrifice sleep, sacrifice a hobby to be with your spouse more, etc.)
Try this: Do something, in celebration of Valentine's Day, for your spouse that shows sacrificial love. Take the kids so she can rest. Give him the day off from household chores so he can golf. Go out of your way to demonstrate your love through sacrifice in a specific way.
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