A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Writing My Valentine's Day Blog

Originally, my Valentine's Day blog was going to be about using the day to share God's love. And it still is. But what started out as a sweet little piece filled with cute ideas about sharing Jesus with neighbors, co-workers, and friends took a sharp turn. While searching for fun facts and statistics about Valentine's Day I found Jamie Glazov's article Hating Valentine's. I expected another bitter rant from someone who didn't have a date or objected to the commercialism of the holiday. I was wrong.

Dr. Glazov is the author of United in Hate: The Left's Romance with Tyranny and Terror and co-editor of The Hate America Left. Here are some highlights from Hating Valentine's: In Saudi Arabia "the Kingdom and its religious 'morality' police officially issued a stern warning that anyone caught even thinking about Valentine’s Day will suffer some of the most painful penalties of Sharia Law." In Iran, the "morality" police have ordered shopkeepers to "to remove heart-and-flower decorations and images of couples embracing on this day..." In Pakistan, "the student wing of the fundamentalist Islamic party Jamaat-e-Islami has called for a complete ban on Valentine’s Day celebrations." In the Philippines, Christian workers are cautioned not to greet anyone by saying "Happy Valentine's Day."

I started a new search. Instead of hunting for fun facts and statistics I looked at Islam and Valentine's Day. I found more sources than I would have thought possible. Basically, in the Islamic world Valentine's Day is regarded as a Christian holiday that leads to promiscuity. But Islam is not alone. Last year in India, members of Shiv Sena, a Hindu group, were arrested for cutting the hair of overtly romantic couples. In past years, there have been reports of violent demonstrations and beatings by Shiv Sena, Shri Ram Sena, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Bajrang Dal, all groups which consider themselves responsible for protecting Indian culture from Western influences. This year is no different. These groups have issued warnings that those who celebrate Valentine's Day can expect backlash.

Personally, I don't think of Valentine's Day as a Christian holiday. Yes, it's rooted in the legends of Saint Valentine. But, I don't see it as a Christian holiday in the same way that I view Christmas and Easter as Christian holidays. Neither do I see it as a holiday of promiscuity. Yes, I expect acknowledgement of the day from my husband along with expressions of his affection. He can attest to the consequences the first year we were married when he missed Valentine's Day because he thought it was "just for when you're dating." He has been corrected on that matter and has not repeated the error. But, Valentine's Day is also about schoolchildren exchanging Valentines and making hearts from construction paper and doilies for their mothers. Fathers giving stuffed animals to their children. It's about love, not just romantic love. And what greater example of love is there than God?

And that brings me back to what this blog was originally going to be about: using Valentine's Day to spread God's love. Share His love with neighbors, co-workers, and friends. But take a moment to consider and pray for the precious people who daily risk persecution in regions of Islam, India, and all over the world in order to share the love of Jesus. At the website for The Voice For The Martyr you can read about Christians in Iran, Laos, Pakistan, China, Iraq, Nigeria (the list goes on and on) who are arrested, beaten, and killed for their witness for Jesus. At Secret Believers you can learn about Brother Andrew's efforts to bring the Christian message to people of the Muslim world and what happens when Muslims believe. Pray for these people, pray for all those who need to hear God's word. And that will be a Happy Valentine's Day.

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Writing My Valentine's Day Blog