This week is Valentine’s Day. That special day on the 14th of February where couples, families, and friends across the world express their love and gratitude to each other. Moreover, it’s the Feast Day of St. Valentine, a legendary Christian martyr known for devoting his life to claiming the validity of Jesus. Each time this holiday comes around, I can’t help but get butterflies (and that’s not just because of all the delicious sweets).
One of my family’s favorite movies is Moulin Rouge!, the iconic 2001 Academy Award winning musical directed by Baz Luhrmann about the infamous Moulin Rouge in Paris, France. Every time we watch it, the music, the dancing, and the love story never fails to dazzle us. It’s a production filled with humor, drama, and incredible talent that my family and I, to this day, can’t get enough of. A notorious quote and lesson from the film states, “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is to love and be loved in return.” This quote opens and closes the forbidden love story of Christian and Satine, leaving the audience in awe and inspiration over this trippy film.
Without a doubt, if I were back in Colorado this week, I would be watching Moulin Rouge! with my family. Valentine’s Day has always been special for us. My middle name is Valentine, and it’s a name that’s been passed down in my family through several generations. Each year on Valentine’s Day, I think of my grandfather and how growing up I’ve always felt a special connection to him and my family through this tradition. I used to call my grandfather on Valentine’s Day and talk to him about how I planned to spend my day, and each time he’d reiterate how special St. Valentine is to our family. Even today, I still receive a card in the mail or a text from him, wishing me well and sending me love.
While Valentine’s Day has often centered around gushy, commercially romantic themes, it’s always been a day of reflection for me in witnessing Christ’s love through my family. Despite many of my relatives, including my grandfather, living on the east coast, I’ve never felt far or disconnected from them. Though I haven’t had the privilege to spend much of my life in close proximity of my relatives, St. Valentine has always reminded me that distance cannot separate the love and presence of Christ. Whether I’m back in Colorado, or across the Atlantic Ocean in Ireland, St. Valentine continues to remind me that Christ is ever present and loving, and because of his death on the cross, I am never truly alone.
So in the spirit of Christ’s familial love this Valentine’s Day, I remember the lyrics to the song my dad wrote for me when I was a baby. I remember my Dutch heritage, and setting wooden clogs at the foot of the fireplace around Christmas time. I remember watching Moulin Rouge!, singing and dancing along to every tune. I remember that I’m Samantha Valentine, a Van Norstrand, and I remember Christ’s death and resurrection, the great love story ever told.
