Reservations are made. Childcare arrangements are secured. A romantic evening filled with excitement and celebration awaits! For many, expressions of love culminate on February 14, Valentine’s Day. Balloons, stuffed animals, and hearts—red, pink, large and small—cover shelves and store displays. While symbols of affection are used to express attraction, there is a love that cannot be measured with sweets, gifts and floral arrangements. This love is perfect, never-ending, and is worth celebrating every day of the year. What is true love?
Pricey Sentiments
Society of American Florists says, “Valentine’s Day is the number one holiday for florists and for floral purchases, and second to Christmas/Chanukah in dollars spent.” The National Retail Federation reports that consumers spent an estimated 23.9 billion dollars for Valentine’s Day in 2022. Husbands and boyfriends rush to grab bouquets—sometimes minutes before being with their valentine—hoping to create blushing smiles and lingering hugs. Consumers will spend (on average) more than $175 on flowers, greeting cards, dinners, jewelry, fragrances, and chocolates to commemorate this special day. Gifts are not limited to that special sweetheart. They are given to anyone to show friendship and affection. The recipients include children, parents, neighbors, and friends. Material expressions of love can be expensive and have limits. There is another expression of love that is costly and has no limits.
Priceless Sacrifice
True love values the person and sacrifices for them. Jesus is our perfect model of true love. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son [Jesus], that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus’s death on the cross displayed God’s sacrificial love for all mankind! You are loved and valued. When you turn from sin, place your faith in Jesus, and live for Him, He gives you what you cannot lose-Himself! You will receive what you did not earn and cannot purchase- eternal life!
Having received the priceless unconditional gift of true love, every month, every day, every hour, and every second can be a love celebration. Why? Because you are valued and loved by the inventor of love—God the Father. He “shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8, ESV) Bask in His everlasting love!
This article first appeared in Birmingham Christian Family Magazine.
