Valentine's history, things left undone, and God's faithfulness

Fantastic Friday

Undone laundry. Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

If you’re new to my Fantastic Friday, here is »the original post« and the general idea is that there is always music (karaoke, to be specific) and always conversation.

This week I had some legit word-vomit prayer sessions on solo car rides and each time, I ended up back to this song to sing at the top of my lungs. It’s about always remembering God’s goodness and faithfulness.

So, I give you my karaoke pick of the week, though I am only singing this ballad outside of my van if you’re belting it out with me!

“Remember” by Lauren Daigle

I’m doing that thing where I look at everything not accomplished from the week, fussing at myself for not doing/being more.

And per my usual cycle, I recognize myself that my to-do list is just a little realm of good intentions that I delude myself into thinking I rule over. But those tasks don’t submit to the false reality where I’m in control of all things, can maintain the energy of a thousand suns, and constantly demonstrate the patience of Jesus to everyone always.

The actual reality is that no matter my attempts at quality sleep or my addiction to coffee, I do not have the energy to keep up with all. the. things. But God does not sleep (Psalm 121:3) and he tells me that I can rest.

Reality is that I do not have the consistent humility to patiently respond to every variable outside of my control or desire. But Jesus is the perfect example of constant humility (Philippians 2).

Reality is that Jesus is the one who actually keeps the world spinning—not me (Hebrews 1:3).

Reality is that while I might be leaving a lot left undone this week (giving this post another edit…those three Substack drafts, cleaning in the garage, dropping off donations, putting away my laundry…), God not only exists outside the realm of my seven day week, but he is not leaving one single plan undone.

His plan for my day is finished. His plan for his people is finished. And, praise be, God is not dependent on my bullet list, crossed off or not, to complete any of his sovereign plans. (Read this little gem, "God Finishes What He Starts".)

Even with some of my things left undone this week, I can—we all can—truly rest knowing that God is always at work and he finishes what he starts. He has always been faithful in loving his people until the end of the age.

Speaking of love…

It’s the Feast Day of Saint Valentine!

• Saint Valentine by Robert Sabuda is the read-aloud I use with my kids and the illustrations are a beautiful mosaic motif with a narrative based on the story of Valentine healing a jailer’s blind daughter. Legend has it that just before he was martyred, he sent a letter to this girl and signed it, “Your Valentine.”

• History Hit has an easy read with 10 facts about the martyred Saint Valentine of Rome.

• And no, Hallmark did not invent Valentine’s Day for sales, though obviously it’s a crazy commercialized industry at this point. There was the ancient Roman feast Lupercalia and it’s fertility rituals, along with the lore of maidens writing love notes to place in urns drawn by unmarried men (noted in the Sabuda book).

• There are a couple theories on how the Feast Day of Saint Valentine became the “love holiday” that it is today, but the one that reigns with actual literary proof is that we can thank (or resent) Geoffrey Chaucer for the romantic invention.

• Geoffrey Chaucer is the medeival English poet who gave us '“The Canterbury Tales.” He also wrote a lovey poem called “Parliament of Foules” (birds). In this poem, he names Valentine four times, associating his feast day with when their culture recognized as the day birds choose their mates for spring. Contemporaries of Chaucer followed suit and soon a trend arose of love poems for Valentine’s day. And 600 years later we buy $2.50 packs of Paw Patrol valentine cards for our two-year olds classes.

• Read more about the Chaucer origin here, here, and here.

A Prayer for You

I don’t know how thick your week was, what is left undone, or how you experience Valentine’s Day. But today I pray that you would know the enduring love and faithfulness of our Father, the are blessed by the humility and sacrifice of Jesus, and that you keenly feel the companionship of the Holy Spirit. You are dearly loved.

For fun…

I cannot find an image credit for this, but I don’t own it!