An excerpt from Celebrate Simply by Nancy Twigg (Kregel Publications, 2006).
It’s ironic that our modern Valentine’s Day celebrations are so far removed from the original purpose and intent of this special day. Today, Saint Valentine’s Day is a time to remember our sweethearts and celebrate romantic love. While there’s nothing wrong with this focus on romance, this kind of celebration is very different from how the holiday began. At its inception, February 14 was set aside to remember two Christian men, both named Valentine, who were martyred for their faith.
Church tradition holds that one of these two Valentines was a bishop executed for converting a Roman family to Christianity. The other Valentine was a priest jailed for aiding persecuted Christians. During his time in jail, he reportedly healed the jail keeper’s daughter of her blindness. Legend holds that the night before his execution, Saint Valentine wrote the young lady a note of affection and signed it, Your Valentine.
Honoring Christian martyrs is a far cry from wining and dining the object of your affection. Pope Gelasius founded Saint Valentine’s Day in 496 to give Christian significance to a pagan festival. He would probably roll over in his grave if he knew that modern celebrations are more about fluff than faith.
When you hear the words Valentine’s Day, what images immediately come to mind? Bouquets of red or pink flowers? Foil boxes filled with delicious chocolates? Romantic cards containing sentimental words? Most likely, at least one of these images comes to you. But how about this one: money?
Even the concept of honoring the one you love has been soiled by this dirty, five-letter word that, when spoken, hurls you from the fantasy world of passion and delight back to the everyday reality of budgeting and making ends meet. Whether we like it or not, money is an integral part of how the Valentine’s Day game is played. Every year, lovers everywhere spend millions of dollars on tangible symbols of their deepest affections.
Is this bad? Am I trying to take all the fun out of February 14? Not at all. If it weren’t for all the media hype and blatant reminders everywhere you turn, some poor spouses might never receive tokens of their partners’ love. Because of the hectic pace at which so many of us live, we often neglect one of the most basic tasks of strengthening and maintaining relationships. The immense media focus on Valentine’s Day, commercialized as it may be, does serve as a reminder to express our affection and gratitude to the people who share our lives.
Expressing devotion to your loved one is good; blowing your budget on expensive flowers that soon wilt or a pricey dinner that lasts only a few hours is not so good. Note the key words here are “blowing your budget.” Please understand that I am not criticizing anyone who has the available resources and chooses to use them for these kinds of gifts.
The problem comes when money that should be used for savings or paying off debt is used for temporary pleasures. Most of us would agree that such gift giving does nothing to simplify and enrich the quality of our lives. This kind of spending, in fact, accomplishes just the opposite. Money worries only add to the pressure to work harder and earn more. Besides, if your budget is tight and both of you know it, your partner may find it difficult to enjoy an extravagant gift.
Another problem with this kind of celebration is when it’s done not out of love, but because the participants feel pressure to celebrate by spending. If traditional Valentine’s Day gifts don’t mean anything to you, why should you feel obliged to give them or to act overjoyed when you receive them? Simplifying this celebration means finding ways to honor your loved one that reflect what is meaningful to both of you.
We’ve seen that traditional ways of celebrating are not necessarily the best. But are there ways to show honor to your sweetie without doing damage to your budget? Is it possible to cut through the commercialism and express your love simply and sincerely?
The answer to both of these questions is a resounding yes! You’re probably smiling right now, in fact, as you remember some special token given to you, or that you’ve given to your loved one, during times when money was tight. You probably know from personal experience that with a little thought and creativity, you can express your love in ways that are far superior to a quick stop by the florist on the way home from work.
Let’s face it. Anyone can shell out a lot of money for a gift without much thought. But how many people can give thoughtful gifts without shelling out a lot of money? Giving that kind of gift takes time, effort, and a certain ingenuity many people are either unable or unwilling to put forth. When the effort is taken, however, the result is a heartwarming gift that is remembered for many years to come.
A friend, whose name is also Nancy, once told me about a time when she and her husband had very little money. Their anniversary was approaching, and she knew there wasn’t even enough to buy an anniversary card. She decided to surprise her husband with a homemade card. She went to gather the construction paper, glue, and markers to make the card, but couldn’t find the supplies in their usual place. When she went looking, she found her husband busily using them to make a homemade card for her!
Even though the incident happened many years ago, my friend still had a certain sparkle in her eyes and glow on her face when she told me this story that conveyed how special the memory was to her. Her husband had given her the gift of his time and earnestly desired to please her. His simple gift was not costly, but it was definitely priceless to Nancy.
Simplifying does not mean you scrimp on the generous outpouring of your love. Instead, you express that love in ways that reflect your values. Candy, flowers, dining out—there’s nothing wrong with these things except that retailers have much to gain from convincing you that no Valentine’s Day is complete without them. By putting your creativity to work, you can bypass the traditional route and give an eloquent expression of your love that won’t drain your budget.
About the Author
Nancy Twigg is a self-employed author, freelance writer, Christian speaker, and homeschooling mom. Besides self-publishing two books and having an active speaking ministry, she edits an online newspaper, freelances, exercises, and still has time to shop for bargains at yard sales and thrift stores. Nancy lives with her husband and daughter in Knoxville, TN.
Next, the girls sifted in flour and the remaining ingredients. Mother laughed as a cloud of flour dust rose around Elaina and Joy. Even their eyebrows turned white! After they finished 
