Advertisers love Valentine’s Day. Valentines’ day has Australians spending $908+ million dollars on romantic getaways, dinner, jewelry, and chocolates, with the average Australian spending $40. (http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/aussies-loosen-the-purse-strings-for-love/story-e6frfkur-1226263867040) The down side to a day dedicated to love is that if you’re recently divorced, had a spouse die, broke up with your partner, or just had a general relationship mishap, this day may bring only misery and regret.
Last year, after spending time alone while my husband Lance had business in America, I was struck by how empty all aspects of my life felt. He wasn’t gone over Valentine’s Day and we’ve never been big celebrators of ‘V day’, but I could only imagine, because of the sadness I felt on just regular days, that Valentine’s Day spent alone would be very sad indeed.
Because of the eye opening I experienced during his absence, Lance and I began to seek how we could show Jesus to others on the day of love. God has introduced into our lives many beautiful single women. Not all are single the same way, but a majority of them are divorced. If you know anything about we Christians, divorce can be one of the big things we feel okay to judge on. And we do. So, these ladies have not only gone through a life changing situation, they’ve also endured the judgment of others. While I would never presume to know the condition of their hearts their ‘sin’ and ‘judgment’ reminds me of women in the bible who encountered Jesus. The Samaritan woman who had many partners for instance. He looked only at her heart. The woman who came to wash his feet with expensive perfume. Her actions outraged some of the disciples, but Jesus saw her heart’s intent. I’m not saying in any way that I can do that: determine a person’s heart intent, but what I can do is to follow my Jesus’ actions and reach out with His grace, mercy and love. And, so my husband and I did.
We decided instead of spending money on each other that we would hold a dinner for the single women, and their children in our lives. We had gifts for them and a very nice dinner. (My husband happens to be an excellent cook and feeding people falls into one of his ways of showing love.) We spoke a blessing to the women and their children and we prayed over them. The funny thing is I was blessed that day, too. Who knew loving on others would prove to be better than any Valentine’s bauble we could have given to each other?
Jesus said, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” Matthew 7:12 and in Hebrews Paul tells us to, “Consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” Hebrews10:24 ESV. This Valentine’s Day reach out to someone beyond and bless them because it is true that you are blessed when you bless.
By Linda Mae Baldwin | Freelance Writer
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