A Different Approach to Love

February 14th. Valentine’s Day.

It’s a day to celebrate love. Elementary school children will have cupcakes with pink frosting at the end of the school day party and they will be sporting a heart-shaped candy heart with the message “be my valentine” on top. Flowers will be bought on the way home by older Valentine givers. Cards and dinners all bought to celebrate love.

Love is one of those feelings that warms us through and through. When you are receiving or giving love you experience unbelievable affirmation. At the same time there are people who commit themselves to love one another and fail. Singles who haven’t found that special person. Or committed partners who find themselves unloved, their partner unfaithful, or their time together actually fracturing their relationships. They never would have initiated this “something” if they knew it would cease.

Paul, in a part of his two letters to his brothers and sisters in Corinth, talks about an intimate trust. He says to the married that they have transferred their jurisdictional authority over their bodies to the other one. Husbands give their bodies to their wives and wives give their bodies to their husbands.

What if that became our new way to evaluate our loves?

They would take better care of me than me. Their commitment causing insights and actions where we know we are loved. I never experience abuse, never feel used, never find myself belittled, or my self-worth assaulted by even words. Our relationship builds trust, faith, and love like cement blocks on top of each other until our foundation is complete. Then what comes next can be modest or extravagant, but it’s just what you want out of love.

Can you imagine a time of every committed person being loved until they feel it? It’s time for a different approach. Find a person who will care for you and your body agrees with you. Our Lord, Jesus, talked about love and obedience (deeds). Be a great Valentine by the deeds you do for each other.