Happy Valentine's Day...a.k.a. help support consumerism day?

I've never been a huge fan of Valentine's day...I mean, why should there be one day a year that is set apart to show someone how much you love them? Some may find this view very pessimistic, but it comes from a much happier place, I promise ;).  I want to show love every day!  Don't you think people should love each other and shower them with gifts of love through words of encouragement, affection, kindness?  The Bible tells us about love in well know verses, " ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (1Cor. 13:4-7).  It is this that we should strive to shower others with.  And more on love found in Romans 12 tells us that "Love must be sincere..." rather than forced because of some holiday :).  Just to clarify again, I am not bashing Valentine's day, but rather encouraging the truth of love to be spread every day.  As 1 John 3:1 says, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”  God is LOVE and how great is his love!

So, on this day of LOVE, I want to remember the TRUE source of all Love and the great sacrifice...the greatest display of love.  I would not truly know love if I did not know Christ and his relentless love.  I will make Valentine's day a day of remembrance and encouragement to continue loving others as Christ first loved me.  It is my day of continued prayer that He would make his love so great in me that it would overflow into ever thing I do and everyone I encounter.

I heard this song today, not for the first time, but really heard it today.  I'm not saying that the song itself is amazing, but the lyrics hold such truth.  It is the perfect Valentine's day song to remind me of Christ's love:  "Hero" by Abandon.
The chorus says it clearly, "Here He stands with scars in His hands. / With love He gave His life so we could be free./ The Savior of the world"

Happy Valentine's Day!  I LOVE you!
xoxo,
~Bri