St. Valentine’s Day

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
      She is more precious than rubies.
   Her husband can trust her,
      and she will greatly enrich his life.
   She brings him good, not harm,
      all the days of her life.
Proverbs 31:10-11 (NLT)

I believe it to be a small dose of synchronicity that brings us to this chapter on St. Valentine’s Day, and you’ll forgive me if I take the opportunity to honor the woman I am honored to have as a partner on the journey.

Today, I’m grateful for the woman who enriches my life and brings me good each and every day of our sojourn together.

a priceless Woman
Enriching my life each day
of Noble character
Dazzling to my eye
the one with whom I Yearn to be

There are three things that amaze me—
      no, four things that I don’t understand:
      how an eagle glides through the sky,
      how a snake slithers on a rock,
      how a ship navigates the ocean,
      how a man loves a woman.
Proverbs 30:18-19 (NLT)

Tomorrow is St. Valentine’s Day, and how fitting that we run into wise King Agur’s contemplation of romantic love in today’s chapter. I don’t claim to understand it anymore than he did, and perhaps my life journey and my own plethora of questions only serve to prove that I understand it far less. Nevertheless, the ladies in my life will tell you (at the risk of losing my man card) that my heart has some pretty large soft spots. I’m a sucker for a little romance.

Scholars will tell you that the ancient Greeks had three basic words for the one English word “love.” Agape is a pure, spiritual love. Phileo is a fond, brotherly love. Eros is the love of sensual appetite. I happen to love all three varieties in life giving measure.

Today, I’m grateful for the mystery of love between a man and a woman. I’m thankful for my wife with whom I can experience a fullness of agape love, phileo love, and eros love. And, I’m looking forward to the dinner we have planned together tomorrow night 🙂