Easter is Valentine's Day

                       The ultimate expression of Valentine's day actually is Easter. It just came to me out of the blue on this Sunday during a church service that happened to be literally halfway between the 2 holidays. While the world for the most part no longer celebrates Valentine's day as a "religious" holiday, it indeed has it's roots in church history. One or more fellas named Valentinus helped persecuted Christians get married, then offered the very first "Valentine" at his own departure,  so legend has it. Anglican, Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox churches have various days of liturgical recognition for their St. Valentines.
                       When saint Valentinus performed secret marriages for persecuted believers, that was a heroic deed that endangered his own life, and expressed love in a very real and sacrificial way. Being martyred for that loving service seems also to speak of the love of His Lord, when Jesus hung on a cross for all of us, and died in our place for sin. So, if Jesus had not given His life for us in that way and then rose from the grave, we'd have no Easter, no Christmas, and no Valentine's day. THEN what would Hallmark do?