Tis the season to declare our undying love with numerous tangible
expressions, which according to IBS World costs sweethearts a total of
approximately $21.6 billion. That number breaks down to $135.10 per person – I
hope my wife does not read this article and discover how cheap I am! This
causes dentists to smile as they realize how much damage $2.9 billion worth of
candy can do on the “pearly whites.” The florists begin rubbing their hands
together as they consider what portion of the $1.8 billion spent on flowers
will be theirs. The jewelers almost salivate as they consider the $1.7 billion
that will be spent on jewelry to adorn one’s special Valentine. The card store
owners hum with joy as they supply $882 million worth of romantic sentiments to
express one’s unique love. The failsafe
gift of course is the $1.5 billion spent on gift cards. “Because,” as one
person put it, “Nothing says ‘I love you’ like, ‘I have no clue what to get
you.’” Frankly, Valentine’s Day is a financial bonanza for the USA economy.
Merchandizers are praying the practice of 29% of people, who will type a
romantic text messages, does not grow and morph into the sole expression of one’s
endearing love.
At Valentine’s Day, how do we keep the
“sweet” in Sweetheart? I suppose a card, candy, flowers or a romantic dinner
are helpful. Let me suggest there may be an even more effective way of
enhancing the “sweetness” in the relationship with our beloved. Let me make an
acrostic from the word “sweet” to offer some suggestions. Let “S” represent “sacrificial
commitment.” The one we love needs to be assured that the one who loves them is
willing to be fully invested in them and their relationship. Jesus displayed
this for His church. The Apostle John notes Jesus’ “sacrificial commitment” as
he writes 1 Jn. 3:16, “By this we know love, because He [Jesus] laid down His
life for us.” Our sweethearts need to know that we value them even more than we
value ourselves and our desires.
The “W” represents “words of
edification.” What we say to a person can either tear them down or build them
up. Our sweethearts need more than romantic words on a Hallmark card. They need
to hear wise words infused with 1 Cor. 13:4-7 type love. Proverbs 15:1-2
advises that “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up
anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools
pours forth foolishness.” Later it adds, “A man has joy by the answer of his
mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!” Do our
sweethearts hear the words from us that allow them to grow or wither?
Let the “E” stand for “encouraging
actions.” Attached to our words must be actions. John writes, “Let us not love
in word or tongue, but in deed and in truth.” You probably have heard a person
say, “Talk is cheap.” I might add, “But actions are priceless.” Supporting the
words we express to our sweetheart must be the actions that confirm the
declarations.
Allow the other “E” to represent “enriching
opportunities.” Do we engage with our sweethearts in events that cause us to
grow as individuals? Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron
sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.” As we engage in common
experiences and have opportunities to process them, we learn about ourselves
and our sweetheart. Experiences like date nights, walks, worship times, prayer
times, and much more, provide occasions when we can develop our love for one
another and God.
Finally let the “T” stand for “time
investments.” In the crush of a busy world, it is easy to allow ourselves to
short-change our relationships by not providing the necessary time to develop them.
The Bible encourages us to “redeem the time” (Ephesians 5:15-16). The word
“redeem” means “the payment of a price to recover
from the power of another.” The world around us is clamoring for our time. We
need to be intentional about investing and reserving time to spend in
developing our relationship with our sweetheart. Relationships, like a garden,
need attention, and tending. This requires time. It is impressive how Jesus
modeled for us how in the busyness of his earthly life, he always invested time
in the ones he loved. We need to “walk in the same way in which he walked” (1 John 2:6).
To keep the “sweet in sweetheart” do more than
give your sweetheart candy, flowers, jewelry, or a card. How about keeping the
“sweet” in your relationship with them?
