Thursday; February 14

         While most of us are familiar with today being Valentine’s Day, there are some who actually refer to February 14th as “St. Valentine’s Day”.  This title is often affixed to a criminally historic event known as “The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” on February 14, 1929 in Chicago, but that is another story for another time.  Not knowing much about the history of “Saint Valentine” I did a little research and found out he was a Roman religious leader who was martyred in 269 AD.  According to my limited research Valentine was killed because of his encouragement of Roman men (especially soldiers) to marry which was in violation of Claudias’ edict that prohibited marriage to keep their minds singularly focused on their task of defending the Empire.  Somehow, from this beginning – and possibly embellished by Chaucer – St. Valentine became intertwined with the concept of romantic love.
          I am not really sure how February 14th became connected with love, but inspired by this story, I would like to take a minute to remind us married-folk that today is as much about us as anyone!  Yes, Valentine’s Day has become a favorite of children who like to hand out Valentine’s Day cards and candy as well as young couples attempting to find love, but of all people who should embrace the social connection between February 14 and love it should be us.  It is easy to get distracted by life and lose “that lovin’ feeling” but we should be the front lines of saving romance.  Whether we have been married for six months or sixty years, we should be the ones advocating that marriage is not only right – it is enjoyable as well.
          Husbands and wives, what are you doing for Valentines Day?  Maybe it would be a good day to fall in love all over again.
          Think About It!

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