Valentine's Day

I might have been in the 3rd or 4th grade when I first read a story in my Spelling Workbook about how Valentine’s Day came to be.  I recall being quite caught up in it and even today I remember the highlights.

My Spelling Workbook story told me that St. Valentine was a priest in third century Rome.  The Pope at the time decided that single men made better soldiers than those who had wives and children.  He issued a decree that forbade young men from getting married.  Valentine thought this was unjust and defied the Pope’s decree by performing marriages for young lovers in secret.  He was sentenced to death and sent to prison.  While there he was often visited by his jailor’s daughter.  He fell in love with her and before his death he wrote her a poignant love letter, signed “From your Valentine.”  And, my friends, that’s how it all started—believe it or not!

In those early school days all the students brought Valentine cards on February 14th.  The cards were deposited in a decorative box and later in the day distributed.  I gave Valentine cards to Bill, Dale, Fred, Annabelle, Alice and all my friends.  All the other students did the same.  But after reading the story of Valentine’s Day in my Spelling Book, I didn’t feel right giving cards to Bill, Dale and Fred anymore.  My whole focus changed and from then on I gave Valentine cards to only Arlene’s and Marie’s and Patricia’s—to “All the girls I’ve Loved Before,” as Willie Nelson would have it.  I’m sure I signed those cards “From your Valentine.”  

I was always taken aback in those early years when I received a Valentine card from my Grandad.  It just didn’t seem appropriate.  After all, I’d given up giving Valentine cards to Bill, Dale and Fred.  It has taken me a long, long time to realize that “Love” is not simply a romantic notion—and that it reaches out to include and embrace all people.

“From your Valentine”