The Valentine’s Day Dilemma

Obligation or Opportunity?

I have friends who are really opposed to the idea of being socially forced to spend money on their wives for this Hallmark holiday: they are convinced it is nothing more than a cash grab for Greeting Card companies and florists! Personally, I see it as an opportunity to do something romantic for my wife (scoring points is always a good thing !) 

Expectations are Everything

Are you expecting something significant for Valentine’s Day?  The keyword is expectation. Well, before Valentine’s Day comes up on the calendar, couples need to talk about expectations! For some ladies, giving and receiving gifts is one of their primary love languages—any guy with a romantic interest would be plain foolish not to see this as a great opportunity to speak her language!

History of the Day

It may be instructive to know that the origins of Valentine’s Day teach us to celebrate the sacrificial nature of love…

One legend tells the story of a third-century Roman priest, Valentine, under the reign of Emperor Claudius II. The Emperor decided that single men made better soldiers on the battlefield than homesick married men who were missing their families. As a result, Claudius outlawed marriage for young men, but Valentine stepped up courageously against him and continued to marry couples secretly.

When discovered, Claudius ordered that Valentine be put to death. The legend continues with Valentine falling in love with the jailor’s daughter and, on the day of his death, leaving a note behind for her signed, “From your Valentine.”

Wise words… Let’s just say the moral of the story is that we don’t have to observe Valentine’s Day—we get to!