A Valentine Celebration
In England, Valentine’s Day began to be popularly celebrated somewhere around the 17th century. By the middle of the 18th century, it was common for friends and lovers of all social classes to exchange small gifts of affection and handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to take the place of handwritten notes. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700’s. In the 1840’s Esther Howland began to sell the first mass produced valentines in America.
February has often been celebrated as hug month and through a good hug the immune system is boosted and we feel good emotionally. So, if you are comfortable, find someone to hug on Valentine’s Day.
The greatest hug of all is the gift of love that we receive from Jesus. If we can remember that Jesus loved us so much that He stretched out his arms and died for us we can then truly have a great Valentine’s Day. Isn’t it also wonderful that it falls on Sunday this year?
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Will