Historically Speaking...

Greg Tobin, an American Author and expert on the Catholic Church, wrote:

"...Where does love enter Valentine’s story? Well, all the stories of saints and martyrs have strong elements that describe their great love for God and, in the case of the martyrs, their willingness to sacrifice their lives for this love and commitment. In the story of St. Valentine, he both lived and died for love.

So, tradition holds that Valentine was a priest in A.D. 269 under the rule of Emperor Claudius II, who is reputed to have banned marriage because he believed that single men made better soldiers. But love finds a way, and those who wanted to marry found an ally in the priest Valentine, who agreed to perform the sacrament in secret. When Claudius discovered this treason, he imprisoned Valentine.
One legend says that young children passed him notes through the prison bars, which could have been the beginning of the custom of sending love notes on Valentine’s Day.

...,the priest was eventually beheaded and then named a martyr by the Church because he gave up his life to perform the sacrament of marriage: for love of love and love of God.

Medieval authors told stories about St. Valentine as a matchmaker for devout Christian couples. According to one tale, the custom of sharing cards on Valentine’s Day echoes a letter that Valentine wrote to his jailer’s daughter, whom he had miraculously cured of blindness, shortly before his execution by Roman authorities. It is said that he signed the note, “Your Valentine.”

The great English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, who lived in the 14th century and is famous for his 'Canterbury Tales,' is credited with calling Feb. 14 'Valentine’s Day,' the day of love, in his poem 'The Parliament of Fowls'."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-tobin/saint-valentines-day-christian-origins_b_2679323.html

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Valentine died on February 14, (circa) 270

He gave his life to preach the Gospel,
help those believers under persecution,
and perform the sacrament of marriage for followers of Christ.










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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21Nc-fALAK4
    Music to read by - Early Italian Recorder Music

The One Who Defines, Dominates

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Heart   4. The seat of the affections and passions, as of love, joy, grief, enmity, courage, pleasure etc.
6. The seat of the understanding; as an understanding heart
7. The seat of the will; hence, secret purposes, intentions or designs.
http://webstersdictionary1828.com/

Love (English) =  1.  a feeling of strong or constant regard for and dedication to someone
2.  a person with whom one is in love
3.  positive regard for something
4.  a brief romantic relationship
http://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/love%5Bnoun%5D

Agape (Greek) =  unconditional love...
principled love...
It means love in a "spiritual" sense. In the term s'agapo, which means "I love you" in Ancient Greek, it often refers to a general affection or deeper sense of "true unconditional love" rather than the attraction suggested by "eros." This love is selfless; it gives and expects nothing in return.

Phileo (Greek) = love between friends...
It is "mental" love. It means affectionate regard or friendship in both ancient and modern Greek. This type of love has give and take. It is a dispassionate virtuous love, a concept developed by Aristotle. It includes loyalty to friends, family, and community, and requires virtue, equality and familiarity.

Eros (Greek) = is "physical" passionate love, with sensual desire and longing. Romantic, pure emotion without the balance of logic. 
(This word is not used in the New Testament.)

Storge (Greek) = love between family members...
It means "affection" in ancient and modern Greek. It is natural affection, like that felt by parents for offspring. Rarely used in ancient works, and then almost exclusively as a descriptor of relationships within the family.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_words_for_love
Saint = a person who is officially recognized by the Christian church as being very holy because of the way he or she lived, a person who is very good, kind, or patient      http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saint
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     Putting Into Practice 

This Valentine story offers a perfect time to discuss the three main definitions of love in the Greek language:

Agape - Valentine's love and obedience to God

Phileo - his love and bravery to assist the soldiers and believers who asked for his help.  Also, his dedication as a teacher.

Eros - He helped others to honor marriage so as to express the love primarily meant by God for a husband and wife relationship.
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        In the story of Valentinus, the jailer's daughter was supposedly named Julia. 
  A legend says that she had grown to love the prisoner Valentinus
for her father had asked him to tutor her while imprisoned. 
Julia came to know Valentinus as a wise and gentle teacher. 
Upon his death she planted an almond tree near the grave to honor him. 

     Today, the almond tree remains a symbol of abiding love and friendship.



     
       

What does the Bible say?

    The Bible has a simple and powerful definition of how we should treat others:

"For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command:

'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Galatians 5:14
Does this mean we're all self-centered?
Who is a "neighbor"?
What if I don't think highly of myself?
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(The Greek translation of "love" in this verse means Agapeseis...to love like God loves.)

"...Valentine’s Day is a good opportunity to learn what the Bible teaches us about love. Not the shallow “love” on display in advertisements and marketing copy, but real, genuine love—the self-sacrificing, grace-extending attitude that God wants to see embodied in all of our relationships, not just our romantic ones. Whatever your plans for Valentine’s Day, take a minute to reflect on these five powerful Bible verses that explain what true love looks like."                             From Bible Gateway
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https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/02/five-bible-verses-about-love/

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 What if...   
    A person can show love but at the same time get accused of showing hatred.  How does that        happen?
    Define "love".  Whose perspective do you use?

    Yes, LOVE is a catch-all word, and it's true identity might confuse the listener.

     For example, imagine two grandmothers at a local park watching their grandsons play.
    One little boy hits the other little boy, albeit, accidentally.  The second boy hits him back, and a fight ensues.  Both come crying to their grandmas, who out of love for their precious grandsons, confront each other.  Not realizing that the boys have resumed playing again, the women's confrontation escalates into an embarrassing yelling match;.......all because they "love". 

Conversations Starters
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What Greek word best describes the love you have for your brother or sister?

What Greek word best describes your love for God?

        Can you give an example of how you demonstrated "phileo" this week?

        Some people say they love God, yet they hurt other innocent people.  What do you think of that?


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Focus on the Family created a resource to initiate meaningful discussion about marriage with a
FREE two-part "Teach Your Children About Marriage"
resource to get the conversation started.

https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/how-to-teach-your-children-about-marriage/

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
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                     http://www.magicalday.com/swept-up-in-his-arms_1_398.html



"The Bible begins with a wedding

and it ends with a wedding...

Christ performed His first miracle at a wedding,

thereby sanctifying it.


Turning Point Magazine & Devotional, March 2016, Robertson McQuilkin, pg. 40





Using Some Sense-able Ideas






Go to Pinterest site "Holidays With Honor" for more ideas.



Taste-able and Smell-able





                                          


                                   




See-able  







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Found on momstown-moments.momstown.ca
http://www.pinterest.com/momstownca/valentines-day-family-fun-crafts-party-and-snack-i/
http://recipe2eat.blogspot.com/2011/01/chocolate-kiss-bread.html
http://hoosierhomemade.com/valentines-cupcakes-vanilla-cupcake-recipe-with-buttercream-frosting/

                                    



                           Hear-able







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Resources for Listening....

Adventures In Odyssey

High quality audio plays by Focus on the Family provide hours of entertainment (and pain-free education).
The Last "I Do"

Album: AIO - 44: Eugene Returns!
Lesson/Theme: Standing up for what's right, the story of Saint Valentine
Bible Verse: Acts 4:29-30
Description:
Kids' Radio tells the story about a priest who defies a third-century Roman emperor who outlaws marriage.
http://www.whitsend.org

Picture used with permission from Focus on the Family.
" Anything that refreshes you
without distracting you from,
             diminishing, or
             destroying your final goal
is a legitimate pleasure in your life."

Ravi Zacharias, "Faith Under Fire – Christian Ethics in the Workplace", Part 2




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