Should Valentine’s Day Be a National Holiday?
Two ladies were talking. Both were married, but neither were newlyweds. They had celebrated many anniversaries. One of them was excited about the fast-approaching Valentine’s Day. “Why are you so excited?” her friend asked. “Valentine’s Day comes every year.“
“Yes,” the first lady agreed, “But my husband is going to take me to dinner at the Ritz. He hates to eat out. I have to beg him to take me out to eat.”
Most women love to be taken out to dinner; my wife is opposite. She is a very good cook; and when I suggest going out for dinner, which I often do, she reminds me of all the food we have and suggests we should eat at home. Besides, she suggests, when we go out we spend a lot of money and often are not satisfied.
All this will explain my thrill when I suggested we go out to dinner for Valentine’s Day this year and she said, “Yes.” The thrill was like the thrill I had when I first asked her for a date and she said, “Yes.” Why would a husband of 66 years be thrilled to take his wife out to dinner?
There are several answers to that question. I am proud of her. I like for her to go places with me. It is something like the guy who has a good car and wants his friends to know it. Another reason is a bit more selfish; she is a good catch. I am confident people think, “Now why would she marry him?”
One final reason, if you please, the Bible teaches true love, agape, is to love even the unlovely. I am not the most loveable guy in the world; and still, she loves me. Genuine love means you are willing to sacrifice yourself for the one you love. I have seen her do this many times.
I have told you all this to illustrate a truth that can help us all. Love means being willing to sacrifice oneself for someone else. You may be willing to do that for those you care about sometimes, but can you do it for everyone you know or meet all the time? Jesus did. He sacrificed His life for His family, His disciples, His enemies---even those who put Him on the cross.
If love is so powerful, perhaps Valentine’s Day should be a national holiday. Heaven knows we need it!
