Holy Valentine's

 

Though some Christians believe that celebrating Valentine’s Day is a waste of time, other says it is good to celebrate it with the people someone loves. 

 

Stephen Nsereko, a pastor in Kampala, says: “This day should be celebrated with your loved ones by giving them gifts and showing that you love them in different ways.”

 

Nsereko says Valentine’s Day does not only mean celebration of love between husband and wife, but should also be about the people we do not know by sharing with them. 

 

Above everything else, Nsereko says, Christians can celebrate the day by fellowshipping and praying with one another. 

Other than some Christian singles being left out, Pastor Joseph Kabuye says to help the singles not to feel left out and make choices they will regret, the church should organise for them a function so that they come together and have fun. “If they go to the beach,” Kabuye says, “you never know at the end of the day, some can meet someone special.”

 

For the married Christians, Kabuye advises they return to their first love. “Remember when you first met and the different names you called your partner, all these should be fanned the more on Valentine’s Day and the practice should go on for the rest of your lives.”

 

Apart from returning to your first love, Kabuye advises as spouses purpose to love each other, they should also do the same with God. Christians should make it a point to love God as they first loved Him because they become better at love, not only to their spouses, but to everyone else around.

 

At this point in life, a Christian is able to practise agape love — unconditional love — to those around and easily forgive wrongs.

 

However, Fr. Emmanuel Mukasa is quick to emphasise that Valentine’s Day should not be a licence for Christians to sin. “People should not misuse the day. It is on this day that one young man can send a message to several girls,” Mukasa says. “He sends a wrong message to them hence breaking their hearts, which is not good in the sight of God.”

 

 For young women, that is when they can be tempted to fornicate because some men have promised them gifts. Because they do not feel secure in God, they choose to give in to the gifts rather than wait for God’s best. 

 

Mukasa says the day can also be celebrated by those engaged to be married. But for those with no intension of marrying, they should stay away from the celebrations because it might tempt them into sin.