“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Cor. 13: 4-7)

In February, our thoughts turn to candy, roses, and of course, love. Years ago, I opposed Valentine’s Day. I held the cynical view that its sole purpose was to bolster retail stores’ sales during the slower months of winter and to make those who aren’t coupled up feel bad about themselves. I felt this way even though I was married at the time.

Now that I’m older, I have a different view of Valentine’s Day. Oh sure, it’s still a commercial holiday and makes people feel bad about their relationship status, but now I see the bigger picture of how a holiday about love ties into my faith.

Of course, the point of Valentine’s Day isn’t to celebrate faith, but as Christians, shouldn’t we take every opportunity to share Jesus’s love? And a holiday centered around love seems like a perfect opportunity.

Love means different things to each of us, and it differs depending on the situation. In English, we have only one word to describe what we feel, whether it’s for a spouse or significant other, a parent, a sibling, a friend, or pizza – and that word is “love.”

Love is more than the warm, fuzzy feeling you get when your person walks into the room. Love is being there for someone when she needs you – a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold. It’s putting aside your own desires and placing the feelings of the other person before your own. It’s helping another even when you don’t have time – and then not complaining about it. It’s smiling at the tired, overworked store clerk when you’re tired and overworked yourself. Love is an attitude, and it is revealed in the actions that we take.

No matter how much we love someone, we are only human and fallible. Our love for each other can’t compare to how much Jesus loves us, because his love is divine and perfect: “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:17-19).

Celebrating love in February is a good reminder that we should love each other every day of the year.

Dear Jesus, remind us that the only reason we know how to love each other at all is because you first loved us. Help us show your agape love to everyone in our lives. Amen.