I have, on more than one occasion, been likened to Bridget Jones – a timely comparison, given Mad About The Boy has just been released. An obsession with matching flannel pyjamas, tick. Think chocolate has the power to fix everything, tick. Can laugh about almost anything from an oh-so-dramatic past, tick. Have been monumentally unlucky in love, tick. 

But, reader, we do have one big difference. Bridget declares Valentine’s Day to be ‘purely a commercial, cynical enterprise’. In contrast, I’m mad about it. I think it’s a beautiful opportunity to celebrate, cultivate, and share God’s multifaceted love through our marriages, friendships, and familial relationships. 

Since eros – which our culture thinks of as sexual desire – is the of type love typically associated with Valentine’s Day, we’ll begin there.  

As a follower of Jesus, you might think steamy sex is off-limits – that God blushes or burns with anger when you’re intimate with your spouse. This couldn’t be further from the truth. God created us as sexual beings; within marriage, sexual pleasure is a gift from him. He wants you to declare your spouse to be ‘altogether lovely’ (Song of Songs 5:10–16). So, be mad about your spouse, unashamedly delighting in their beautiful body and keeping the spark alive that first brought you together.  

That’s the juicy bit done. 

But the next three expressions of love aren’t booby prizes. Rather, they’re stunning – and often undervalued – types of love we can enjoy whether single, dating, married, widowed, or divorced. 

Ever looked at your watch and realise you’ve been chatting with a friend for hours? If so, you’ve enjoyed philia, the joy-filled companionship we can enjoy friends that’s also a distinctive marker of Christian fellowship (John 13:35). 

Or perhaps you remember being cared for by a parent when you were ill, feat. homemade soups and toast on tap. Sound familiar? You’ve experienced storge, the nurturing relationship that some have been privileged enough to experience in our families or church families, and which all of us can experience in communion with our loving Father God (Romans 12:10).  

So, whilst not very British, be mad about your friends and family, demonstrably expressing your love through words and actions and thanking God for each moment of care, connection, and camaraderie. 

And finally, reflect God’s agape in all these relationships. It’s a love that heals broken hearts. It’s a love that puts the other first. It’s a love that brings life.  

Yes, I’m mad about celebrating love. Sorry Bridget. 

Sophie Sanders

Marketing and Communications Lead

If this article hit a nerve and you’ve experienced the sad reality of broken relationships in this broken world, you might enjoy our new blog series, When relationships go wrong.