Greetings to our amiable people of Rivers State and welcome to another episode of RivEthics on Radio, our character-building weekend show. Please remember that where there is great love, there are always miracles. This episode is titled, “What is Love?”
February 14th of every year popularly referred to as St. Valentine’s day is a day many people exchange cards, candies, gifts, flowers or spend special moments with their loved ones renewing their vows to each other. But the big question is how much of the love we profess these days is truly sacrificial love? Does the celebration of Valentine remind us of the true meaning of love and it’s essence in our lives, which is sacrificing for the other person?
It is really an issue of concern to see teenagers and even older persons engage in all sorts of immorality in the name of celebrating Valentine’s day. Boys and girls, men and women looking for their “vals” every year. This is the wrong idea. It is important that parents, teachers and guardians teach their children/wards the true meaning of Valentine’s day and all similar celebrations. Valentine’s day gives us the opportunity to recognise and salute the love that is purely sacrificial and aimed at giving up of ourselves (time and resources) for another’s happiness. It is a kind of love that can be deeply reflected in the unseen sacrificial love of a mother to her child, husband to his wife, friend to another friend and between family members and work colleagues.
We can also show such love to people we don’t even know by observing a visit to the elderly in homes, spending quality time with the less privileged persons, orphans and the motherless all with the ultimate aim of bringing joy to the recipients.
We all know that God’s love for us is sacrificial in nature. The love of God is, among other things, patient, kind, truthful and long-suffering. And we are enjoined to love our neighbours as ourselves. So as we enjoy the valentine season, we should bear in mind that the greatest form of love does not centre on having only affectionate or romantic feelings but should extend further to causing some good or bringing happiness to some other person on whom such love is shown, especially when this person cannot reciprocate in like terms. Love is active, not passive. Where love exists, it gives more than receives.
Let us listen to our guest speaker as she takes us through the topic. She is Mrs. Faith Abasa, a media expert and the Convener of Faith Abasa Foundation.
Our loving Rivers People, please remember to always let your manners speak for you.
God bless and keep you and your families and God bless Rivers State.