Every February 14 lovers from around the world exchange chocolates, flowers, and lavish gifts to celebrate the most romantic day of the year: Valentine's Day.
Valentine's Day was voted the best day of the year to propose, more than any other day with as many as 6 million couples getting engaged on February 14.
Valentine's Day was named after its patron saint, St. Valentine. Legend has it that Valentine was killed for attempting to help Christians escape prison in Rome.
While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl - who may have been the jailor's daughter - who visited him during his confinement.
Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today.
According to the National Retail Foundation, Americans spend a record-breaking $27.4 billion on Valentine's Day — including $2.4 billion on candy alone!
According to Hallmark, a whopping 145 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged every February 14 (and that's not including all those kids' valentines exchanged in classrooms!). This makes Valentine's Day the second biggest holiday for exchanging greeting cards, after Christmas. Teachers receive the most Valentine's Day cards annually, followed by children, mothers and wives.
According to the National Retail Federation, more money is spent on jewelry at Valentines than candy and flowers; a whopping $5.8 billion in 2020! The second most-paid-for gift on Valentine's Day 2020 was an evening out with $4.3 billion, followed by clothing, candy and then flowers.
More than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolates are sold each year which equals to 58 million pounds of chocolate!
Valentine’s Day is a time when love is in the air and feelings of happiness and bliss are everywhere, or at least we would like to think so. But the truth is all the cards, candy and flowers in the world can’t heal broken hearts.
The world is filled with broken hearted people. It is a world in desperate need of a Savior, Jesus Christ is the healer of broken hearts.
Luke 4:18 a
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted…
Jesus came to this world to redeem lost mankind, He is always looking for those who are broken and in need.
If you were in a crowd of a thousand people and everyone was jumping for joy and you were the only one broken and weeping, you would be the one that He would seek out. He comes near to those of a broken heart and a crushed spirit.
The fact is, we live in a world filled with broken, hurting and wounded people. You don’t have to look very far before you find someone who is suffering.
During the Vietnam War there was a nurse that gained attention by going into the battlefield and dragging wounded soldiers to safety. She was often reprimanded by doctors and one day she was seen by an officer who rebuked her. He said, “What are you doing on the battlefield?” She said without hesitation, “I’m looking for the wounded, that’s what I’m here for”!
You are not abandoned or forsaken, the Lord is looking for you. He's looking for the wounded and the brokenhearted.
