December 27, 2000
This page is dedicated to my dear wife of 18 years, Wendi, and to my 12-year-old son, Joe. I love you both very much!
Valentine’s Day is all about love, right? So what more appropriate thing could I offer here than the text of the famous “Love Chapter” in the Bible, First Corinthians chapter 13? Here it is, from the New International Version:
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
There is an overwhelming abundance of sites on the Internet devoted to Valentine’s Day. Below is a sampling of sites that deal with the history of the holiday. Most of them have other neat stuff on them too.
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Sugar is sweet
and so are you.
We’ve all heard that one, right? But there’s a problem: violets aren’t blue; they’re… well, violet colored, or more like purple. But purple doesn’t rhyme with anything, as seen in the final stanza of Roger Miller’s 1965 hit song, Dang Me:
Roses are red,
Violets are purple,
Sugar’s sweet
and so’s maple surple.
I’m the seventh out of seven sons,
My pappy was a pistol; I’m a son of a gun!
When I thought of this, I said to myself, “Self (ahem!), you can do better than that!” So I tried a few of my own:
Roses are red, Violets are tan,
I’m glad our love wasn’t “Made in Japan.”
(No offense to the Japanese, but we were married in the good old USA!)
Roses are red, Violets are beige,
You really look mighty fine for your age!
Roses are red, Violets are green,
You are the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!
Roses are red and violets maroon,
Valentine’s Day will be here very soon.
Roses are red, but violets are too,
“In love with an Ummamum”—could this be you?
Roses are red, Violets are white,
If you plan to write poetry, please do it right!
Roses are red, Violets are teal,
Babe, you’re magnificent! That’s how I feel.
Roses are red, Violets are mustard,
You’re as delicious as fresh frozen custard!
Roses are red, Violets are yellow,
Please don’t leave me for some young, handsome fellow.
Roses are red, Violets are gray,
I love you more dearly with each passing day.
Roses are red, Violets are black,
We’re married now, and there’s no turning back.
Be sure to read our Romeo & Juliet page in Ummamum’s World.