Dao of Love-o

Dao of Love-o.  Ah the great Saint of Love is to appear tomorrow (or today) as he has every year for a very long time. It is the only day that I know of where a woman can walk into the Piggly Wiggley and see a line of men befuddled in front of the "Valentine Card" aisle.  Their eyes intent on reading absolutely every card as they aren't sure really what they are SUPPOSE to be saying this day of love. And then that same gal can complete her shopping and pass the "flower" displays and see the very same befuddled men wondering what specific flower will keep them out of the  proverbial dog house. They have no clue that a certain rose color specifies a certain feeling. They just know what's "pretty". Now mind you, it is usually close to dinner time  these boys are out in droves trying to measure up and their dear sweetheart is at home with the flower petals strewn across the kitchen and a piping hot roast sizzling in the crock pot. She has planned this day for the last 2 weeks and she IS prepared. Her expectations are set as high as the pot roast despite the disappointment she has encountered every year. (He just doesn't get it....he married  ya didn't he? Why does he have to prove it every Christmas, birthday, Mother's day, and now this contrived day that the card company came up with?) But we girls have had these romantic notions since we were 8. By Jeeves, we are going to have a romantic day if it kills us. Women. Men don't get us. But to be fair we are way to complicated then we need to be.

So I looked up the story of this Roman Priest, St. Valentines who has caused all this fuss between lovers. In 269 A.D. St. V was arrested for performing Christian marriages that sustained the notion of monogamy between one man and one woman. (Yes I do know monogamy means one man and one woman and I am being redundant....stop judging.)  Apparently at that time having several wives was okay. The Emperor Claudius also believed that soldiers performed better unmarried. The notion was that they, the soldiers, worried too much about what would happen to their families if killed. So between Emperor Claude distorted view for his soldiers, multiple spouses the norm. Messy even if I do say so myself. So persecution occurred to many of those who held religious beliefs, especially regarding marriage. Valentine, who held to the idea of love and family and marriage, was eventually caught (for performing weddings in secret)  and sentenced to a three part execution.....torture, stoning, beheading. Well one of the judges, Asterious, had him pray over his blind daughter  before and the daughter was healed. The last words St. Valentine supposedly wrote were to this (Asterious) daughter and he signed it , "Your Valentine." (Source: CBN.com)

The Author of this article wrote:

If Valentine were here today, he would say to married couples that there comes a time where you're going to have to suffer. It's not going to be easy to maintain your commitment and your vows in marriage. Don't be surprised if the 'gushing' love that you have for someone changes to something less "gushing" but maybe much more mature. And the question is, is that young person ready for that?"

So if that man of yours comes home with Wallie World daisies and a card that says something less then romantic, forgive him. Your  NOT in it for the moment but for the long haul. One day of too high expectations shouldn't define your marriage. How you react this day is what defines the marriage. If he does nothing, love him any way for SHOWING UP everyday. Love him for working FOR YOU. Love him for the small things HE DOES DO for you. Think of all the things he does for you when not required by Mr. St. V. and Hallmark. Go and have a less "gushing" marriage. And thank the Saints for your man!

Go and do and my thanks to St. Valentine for the reminder of my love for my Prince Charming!