To many, Valentine's Day serves as a reminder to express one's love to that special person in their life.
I've heard of a unique Valentine's Day tradition that arose in Wales.
A young man, wanting to declare his love and announce his marital intentions, gave his beloved a spoon decorated with a key. The key represented, "the key to the man's heart" announcing to his lady that his heart was full of love for her.
It was an invitation for her to unlock his heart so that his love could flow freely to her.
What a beautiful way of showing one's love for another!
I'm sure many of us have our own story of the one who came alongside and unlocked our heart's door, perhaps becoming our life-long lover.
Did you know Valentine's Day began in a church?
An annual church service and festive banquet first began in celebration of the life, ministry and death of St. Valentinus of Rome.
Valentinus, a Christian pastor, was arrested and accused of performing marriages for Roman soldiers and their brides, and for practicing the Christian faith. Both, at that time, were forbidden under the Roman law. He was convicted and sentenced to death.
In prison, he performed a miracle in Jesus' name, healing the daughter of his jailor, a Roman official named Asterius. Before his death, Valentinus wrote a letter as a farewell to the girl, encouraging her in her faith, signing it "your Valentine."
Thanks to the influence of poets like, Geoffrey Chaucer, Valentine's Day became associated with romantic love, or sexual attraction. The Greeks use the word 'eros' for such love. The word 'phileo' is used for warm affection and friendship. "Agape," the highest form of love — the love of God, which is love that does not depend on being reciprocated, or expecting anything in return is the kind offered to us through His Son.
As we celebrate the beauty of love towards each other, we remember the author of love, giving the greatest love gift ever — "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
One of the most beautiful pieces of literature ever written about love is found in the New Testament.
It says, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
— Corinthians 13: 4-8
Wow! What a world we would have if we considered treating each other with 'agape' love!
— beulah
Now, well into our year of 2016, surrounded by that white stuff that keeps floating downward, along with chilly, dark, cloudy days, there is little doubt we are experiencing winter!
Of course, as well, along comes the flu and cold season, a bane to those exposed to the public's germs. I expect some folk, after stepping on the scales after over-indulging during the holiday season, are munching on carrot and celery sticks, meanwhile, spending lots of workout hours trying to get back in shape.
Some of us just might prefer to hibernate, like our friends, the bears, if that were only possible.
I Wanna Be A Bear
I could deal with this.... If you're a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but sleep for six months, I could deal with that.
Before you hibernate, you're supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal with that, too.
If you're a mama bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too. I could deal with that.
If you're a bear, your mate "expects" you to wake up growling. He "expects" that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat. I wanna be a bear!
Our body is a marvellous invention! Often, I am awed at its ability to heal and to function so well, especially as we are diligent in properly caring for it.
Psalm 139:14, reminds us..."I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made..."
The world always looks brighter from behind a smile. Here's another chuckle or two.
As I will be having my yearly colonoscopy soon, I found the following quite amusing.
Forgive my sense of humour.
All the organs of the body were having a meeting, trying to decide who was the one in charge."I should be in charge," said the brain, "Because I run all the body's systems, so without me nothing would happen."
"I should be in charge," said the blood, "Because I circulate oxygen all over so without me you'd all waste away."
"I should be in charge," said the stomach, "Because I process food and give all of you energy."
"I should be in charge," said the legs, "Because I carry the body wherever it needs to go."
"I should be in charge," said the eyes, "Because I allow the body to see where it goes."
"I should be in charge," said the rectum, "Because I'm responsible for waste removal."
All the other body parts laughed at the rectum and insulted him. So, in a huff, he shut down tight. Within a few days, the brain had a terrible headache, the stomach was bloated, the legs got wobbly, the eyes got watery, and the blood was toxic.
They all decided that the rectum should be the boss."
The moral of the story?
Even though the others do all the work.... You decide!
— beulah
To many, Valentine's Day serves as a reminder to express one's love to that special person in their life. 
