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Like a beautiful Venn Diagram \u2013 perhaps shaped like a heart, 2024 is delivering an overlap of two Christian observances.\u00a0 February 14th is Ash Wednesday, but also St. Valentine\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n
Normally, this day marks a time of truffles and fuzzy slippers with hearts; a day where the word Love<\/em> is thrown around a lot.\u00a0 So casually, that it insults such a great gift.\u00a0 The truth is that come Wednesday, February 14th, we all should have a Christ-like love in our hearts.\u00a0 One that mirrors the love St. Valentine had in his while he was imprisoned, and a love like Jesus wrote to his disciples as he prepared to die: \u201cLove one another as I have loved you\u201d.\u00a0 John 15:12<\/p>\n The Christian roots of Valentine\u2019s Day are often forgotten or overshadowed by the commercialization that has come with chocolate hearts and Hallmark greeting cards.\u00a0 The truth is that St. Valentine was a Roman martyr whose feast day is February 14th.\u00a0 He was a Catholic priest known for his kind heart and generosity.\u00a0 There are many accounts of his history in prison.\u00a0 Some told of him writing \u201cLove letters\u201d to couples he had married in Christian ceremonies contrary to Roman Law.\u00a0 Others accounts skip to the part where he was persecuted by the Roman empire and killed for his Christian faith.<\/p>\n Auspiciously, February 14th marks the start of lent for many Christians.\u00a0 The 40 day period, preceding Easter concludes on March 28th and encompasses prayer and fasting, symbolizing Jesus\u2019 40 days of fasting in the desert.\u00a0 As well as heart stickers on children\u2019s faces symbolizing Love<\/em>, many Christians mark the day with ashes on their foreheads representing both death and repentance.\u00a0 Genesis 2:7: \u201cAnd the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.\u201d<\/p>\n In observing Ash Wednesday, it is advised that you indulge prior to February 14th. For Catholics and many other Christians of other denominations, anyone ages 14 and up must abstain from consuming meat.\u00a0 On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday: everyone age 18 to 59 must fast.<\/p>\n Perhaps the center of this tender hearted Venn Diagram is Love<\/em>, itself.\u00a0 We should appreciate the two events colliding.\u00a0 A symbol of sacrifice and devotion to one\u2019s faith and appreciation for the roots of tradition.\u00a0 So, remind your family, your children, and your friends, that when they exchange tokens of Love<\/em>, to do so with intention.\u00a0 Treat your Loved ones with a purposeful token of appreciation and let them know they have a special place in your life.\u00a0 This Valentine\u2019s Day, reflect on the origin and try not to loosely throw around Love<\/em>, as the holiday was intended for something filled with wonder, admiration, and something much more Christian.\u00a0 Loving God and one another.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Brittany Stewart, an accomplished writer and educator, draws inspiration from her 23-year marriage and upbringing near Lake Tahoe in Verdi, Nevada, now residing in Tucson, Arizona. With her Bachelor\u2019s degree in Education, emphasizing Native American Literature and Journalism, Brittany is a multifaceted professional who is also a Licensed Massage Therapist. She is deeply involved in Tucson\u2019s homeschooling community, leading a homeschool group, teaching dance, and offering art classes. She and her family have a homestead in Southern Arizona, where her husband hunts and she tends to the garden, emphasizing the importance of God and family in her life while continually seeking adventure through her travels.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\u201cLet all that you do be done in love.\u201d \u2013 Corinthians 16:14<\/em><\/h6>\n