Did you get GIFs, messages, and other reminders about love yesterday? What about these following non-conventional Valentine messages?
“No date on Valentines? Go to church, have a date with God. It’s the most romantic.”
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1Corinthians13:13).
Dearest Heavenly Father, through the Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary, I want to thank you for the precious gift of love you have given to the world and to me. Thank you for blessing me every day with this love and the power and strength that I get from you every single day. Without your love for me I can't be, I can't function, I can't even breathe because I need your love to sustain me. It's like food and medicine for my soul, Lord.
Please continue to let me feel your comforting love in my life. And Lord, I give myself over to you to perfect in me this gift of love that I may be able to express it and share it with others. I have not always been good at this, forgive me. Lord. Some people are harder to love than others but I want to be like your son Jesus and his Virgin Mother Mary. So please continue the work you are doing in my heart so my heart will be like yours. In Jesus’ name I pray. Father, I love you so much!
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I consecrate myself and my whole family to you. I consecrate to you my very being and my whole life, all that I am, all that I have and all that I love. To you I give my body, my heart, and my soul. To you I dedicate my family, my home and my country. Mindful of this consecration, I now promise you to live a Christian way of life by the practice of virtues. O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, accept this act of consecration, which I make out of pure love for you.
Mainstream TV and radio were also broadcasting stories, songs, and reports about love. These following news about novel, practical Valentine gifts were among the most delightful.
Aside from or instead of the conventional Valentine roses and chocolates and because of the COVID-19 alert, some prepared and gave face masks to their loved ones with the message to take care and stay healthy.
Others gave canned goods instead to ensure that their loved ones have food to remember them by on this day. Another planned to give just a box of laundry soap to his girlfriend so she is reminded to start to learn how to wash clothes. The storeowner, when told about this intention, advised and gave the boyfriend one rose to avoid any misunderstanding on that special day of love.
Breaking away from mainstream Valentine messages, there were also reminders for all to love and protect people and this planet especially during the present climate emergency. This love message is one example:
“If you truly love God and your neighbor, you cannot treat people like or less than garbage.”
And the following eco-protective stance as another example:
On Valentine’s Day, the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice led a multi-sectoral conference which, together with Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon, called on the DENR to uphold people’s right to clean air through constant surveillance of air quality with updated air monitoring equipment. The environmental advocates also suggested the formation of a multi-sectoral council on air quality in order to give power to communities and grassroots organizations in addressing the impacts of air pollution.