Many people this year are again yearning for that Cupid’s arrow to pierce their lonely lockdown hearts, but this Valentines was a totally different story. No possibility of romantic dates, tête-à-têtes dinners, weekends away. No adolescent after school/college postings of secret admirer valentines’ cards. This year Lockdown has changed our world but has it really changed our attitude about Love?
Let’s think about it……What is love ?
Yes there is all the romance of being “in love“ with that special person, “the one”
but equally there is also the strength of the innate love of a parent, a sibling, a grandparent, the love of a close friend or trusted neighbour or even the love of a faithful pet.
In the Bible Jesus tells us when asked what was the greatest commandment?
“Love the lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind ….Love your neighbour as yourself.” Matthew 22:36-40:
On the home front how do we show our love to one another?
Today in a prolonged lockdown, restricted, furloughed, unemployed, in dire straits…all the cumulative negative effects of Covid-19. It would be so easy to vent our frustration and pent up feelings on those around us and harden our hearts. Our words carelessly spoken in anger can have detrimental effects.
King Solomon renowned for his God-given wisdom wrote, “It is better to live on the corner of the roof than to share a house with a nagging wife”. Proverbs 21:9
Let’s not overthink this. We can all become angry and say things we don’t mean but that doesn’t make it right. We need to make amends and say we are sorry to those were on the receiving end brunt of our outburst.
Again the bible tells us, “Do not let the sun go down when you are still angry“ Ephesians 4:26. The bible was written thousands of years ago but it’s sagely advice is still as relevant today as it was when written all those years ago.
This unprecedented year of Covid-19 let’s think of our relationships with others, not just the ones we love but all our associations with others and start to show the consideration and gentleness of our real selves. Let’s think, “Did I speak unkindly to the kids my wife/husband, friend, work colleague ?
Again, the bible says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1.
So, this season of Valentine’s we could consider three things.
- We could renew our Faith in God as we are coping with the restrictions of this awful lockdown.
- The Hope that the vaccination programme is eradicating Covid-19.
- That our Love of one another will surpass everything.
Remind yourself of the reading from Corinthians 13: 4-13
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
Corinthians 13: 4-13
Maybe read it for yourself.
Happy Valentine’s Week