The Ultimate Valentine’s Day Date

Hello everyone! With Valentine’s Day just a day away, I thought it might be a good idea to talk about what the ultimate Valentine’s Day date looks like. I’m sure many of you have your ideal date in mind. A night out with your special someone, that includes; a fancy dinner, a dozen roses, lavish gifts, a sweet card, and candy to top it all off. Without all of these things, that date is considered a fail. Seems like a hefty task to take on for anyone.

In America especially, Valentine’s Day has become a very big and commercialized product. We boast about the over-the-top things we do or get as if it signifies how much we love one another. Society makes us believe, especially us girls, that this should be a very important day to feel loved and pampered. We set high expectations, and are upset when they aren’t delivered. We compare the lovingness of our own relationship by what other’s get. We might feel like, “If I didn’t get two dozen roses like they got, I am not as loved”. It becomes a competition for who can showboat the most, and the winner gets the most things.

Believe me, I am just as guilty for getting into this mindset, so you will see no finger pointing from me. I have noticed that some years, I unfortunately question my relationship. To be straight, my relationship is a positive one throughout the rest of the year. But, if my Valentine’s Day plans aren’t up to par, my relationship is suddenly in turmoil. Don’t get me wrong, I am appreciated on this day, just like many of you. However, I think I ruin the reality of what is, due to my expectations and comparison. When I let down those standards, I notice I am much more appreciative and happy.

I have a hunch, that many of you are in the same boat. So what do we do about it? Can we change how we anticipate and feel the day should go? I have decided for myself, that instead of focusing on one day a year to profess my love, and do nice things. That I want to profess my love and do nice things throughout the year, on ordinary days! My loved ones deserve that from me! It doesn’t have to be outrageous acts of love to show them they are appreciated. I feel that the random acts of love and kindness feel more genuine and from the heart. They also make ordinary days feel extra special, and more days should feel like that.

In the Bible it talks a lot about love; God’s love for us, Jesus’ love for us, and the love that we should have for one another. It doesn’t talk about conditional love, where God loves you when you do XY&Z. It talks about unfailing, grace-filled, and faithful love. No matter what you do. It’s a simple, non-extravagant love. This theme of unfailing, unending love is widespread throughout the Bible. If we look at this, its as if God is trying to give us a Valentine through his word.

Exodus 20:6 says, “But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands”. Numbers 14:18 “The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion”. These are early on scriptures discussing the love God has for us. His love is a blessing for us. Romans 5:5 says, “For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love”. As I said above, there are no lists to follow to earn his love, he just loves us. A perfect love. No stipulations or conditions. It’s free and it’s so so good.

God wants us to love each other so that we can become perfect love like him. Not in a human or worldly way, where it is conditional and imperfect, but as he loves us. To love someone and forgive them even when they don’t deserve it, sounds like a challenge. But, if it leads me to be closer to him, I’m all in. As it says in 1 John 4:7-10, “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed us how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love – not that we loved God, but he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins”. Jesus was the greatest Valentine’s Day gift we all could ever get. The greatest profession of love. It wasn’t dipped in chocolate or wrapped with a pretty bow. It definitely was a costly gift, but one I feel he would give again and again if he had to.

I’m going to encourage you to be humbled and grateful for the special loved ones in your life this Valentine’s Day regardless of if they spoil you with everything you want and deserve or not. Choose to spend the day with an open and loving heart. It’s a wonderful occasion to show someone you love them, and so is every other day. You don’t need the calendar to tell you that. Allow God to become a part of your day and fill you with his perfect, positive, love. We won’t just make our loved ones happy if we do, I am sure of that. 1 Corinthians 13:13, “Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love”.