Sweet Nothings
BY Michaela dumlao
To the dread of many, Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow this year; we are to have six more weeks of winter.
While spring isn’t here yet, and the weather in Ithaca certainly reflects it, “spring love” is already in the air. Chocolate hearts, love letters, and big romantic gestures are all key ingredients to the fantastical notion of Valentines—a day that is supposedly the peak embodiment of love. Oh, how romantic it seems to be on the receiving end of sweet nothings: being the muse of a love song, the recipient of red roses, a heart-shaped box of chocolates embodying a heart that is just for you. Yet, during this holiday of sweet nothings, it becomes all the more apparent that the human soul craves a love far beyond what chocolates and flowers can offer—a love that feels just out of reach. Our souls have a particular sweet tooth that cannot be satisfied with earthly love. Eventually, the flowers wither, the music stops, and the evening fun comes to an end.
The end of loving is an inevitable symptom of worldly romance. You meet someone, you feel something, and the feelings lead to desire. You crave closeness and intimacy, but when you both rely too much on those enamored feelings, disappointment follows. The very emotions that bound you together begin to fade. What was once thought to be love was nothing more than a fleeting feeling. The butterflies dissipate, and the sweet nothings turn out to be, quite literally, nothing.
Now don’t get me wrong, feelings can indeed be good. But the butterflies in your stomach, the desire for closeness, the feelings you have for someone, are not love. In 1 John, the Bible says that “God is love.” [1] Our hearts desire a love that can only be satisfied by He who is love Himself. The butterflies dissipate, the flowers wither, but God’s love endures. He is the one who satisfies the sweet tooth of our souls and offers a love that never fades.
1 Peter 2:24 says “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” [2]
This Valentine’s Day, whether you receive a box of chocolates or not, find comfort knowing that God’s enduring love, the love of Christ who came to die for our sins on the cross, is the best gift we could ever receive.
SOURCES
[1] 1 John 4:8 ESV
[2] 1 Peter 2:24 NIV