Rise up, my love and come away.
Despair is a bottomless pit of darkness.
Where the icy fingers of fear caress the skin and misery cuts deep into the bone.
Where there is an absence of emotion, the heart turns to stone.
We can do nothing but to look away from the hurt, from the pain.
From the fear and listen.
Listen clearly and hear that longing in His sacred melody;
That sweet honeyed song of Hope.
Saying, “Rise up, my love and come away.”
( reference: Song of Solomon 2 verse 10)
Make this day special…
#14 of 14
Valentine’s Day
What does Valentine’s Day mean to you?
It is universally known as a day when couples celebrate their love. But for others this day is a day to show kindness and compassion.
Sharing a friendly word or doing simple acts of kindness is the key.
For example: making that extra run to the grocery store for a family member or neighbour, holding a door for someone coming up behind, nodding a hello, making a call to an old friend or going down memory lane with a sweet smile by yourself, makes all the difference. Make this day special for others or just for yourself.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
“Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.” Song of Solomon 2 verse 10
The 5 Love Languages
#11 of 14 Touch
Physical touch – being close to and caressed by your partner (Gary Chapman’s 5 Love Languages) Romantically, touch is a way of giving and receiving love.
Touch is a fundamental form of non–visual perception, one that plays a crucial role in nearly all of our sensory experiences (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy 2021)
“Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn my beloved.” Song of Solomon 2 verse 17a
I am my beloved’s and his desire is toward me
#10 of 14 My Favorite Love Poems
“I am my beloved’s and his desire is toward me” – Song of Solomon 7 verse 10
“Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments. Love is not love which alters when it alternations finds” – William Shakespeare (Sonnet 116)
“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach.” – Elizabeth Barrett Browning (Sonnet 43)
“Grow old along with me the best is yet to be, the last of life, for which the first was made” – Robert Browning
“O my Luve is like a red, red rose that’s newly sprung in June; O my Luve is like the melody that’s sweetly played in tune” – Robert Burns
“Drink to me only with thine eyes and I will pledge with mine or leave a kiss within the cup, and I’ll not ask for wine” – Ben Jonson 1616
“Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave” Song of Solomon 8 verse 6
setting a romantic mood to a memorable evening.
#9 of 14 Setting the Mood
Setting a romantic mood to a memorable evening can consist of wine, chocolate and candlelight. All three of these items separately or together make an evening light and full of love. Wine brings a couple joy as they set aside time together. Chocolate is a natural sex enhancer as it promotes blood flow to the sexual organs, increases sensation, satisfaction and desire because it contains a certain amino acid called L-arginine. Candlelight or dim lighting dilates the pupils very similar to the reaction experienced when two people are attracted to each other.
“but I found him whom soul loveth; I held him, and would not let him go.” Song of Solomon 3 verse 4
Whispering sweet nothings…
#8 of 14 Sweet Nothings
Couples in love speak a special language, called Sweet Nothings. The whisperings of love and romantic talk to each other. Sweet nothings was first noted in a poem by English novelist Mary Elizabeth Braddon in 1776, “as low he bend o’er her he loves so dear, to whisper some sweet nothing in her ear.”
“…it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh,” Song of Solomon 5 verse 2
Many waters cannot quench love
#7 of 14 Love
Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure.[1][2] An example of this range of meanings is that the love of a mother differs from the love of a spouse, which differs from the love of food. Most commonly, love refers to a feeling of strong attraction and emotional attachment.[3] (Wikipedia.org 2021)
“Many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drown it.” Song of Solomon 8 verse 7
Attraction means a person or thing that draws, allures
#6 of 14 Attraction
Romantically speaking, a person can be attracted to another person by the way they look, how they move, how they smell, what they say and even how they say it. For example, when meeting someone for the first time, the senses are immediately invoked and heightened, leading to the creation of either a positive or negative assessment.
Attraction means a person or thing that draws, allures or entices and scientifically speaking, there is such a thing as an magnetic force where opposites attract.
“Draw me, we will run after thee.” Song of Solomon 1 verse 4
A kiss is the touch or pressing of one’s lips…
#4 of 14 – The Kiss
“Let him kiss me…” Song of Solomon 1 verse 2a
‘A kiss is the touch or pressing of one’s lips against another person or object. ( Wikipedia -English 2021) And can express the sentiments of love, passion, romance, affection, respect, greeting, friendship even betrayal among other things, depending on the context and culture.’
as the lily among thorns so is my love among the daughters.
#3 of 14 Language of Flowers
In the Victorian Era, flowers were used to express emotions that cannot be spoken. For example, a flower given by the right hand meant a “yes” to a question and if the flower was handed over with the left hand, it meant ” no”.
Flowers, plants and herbs have meaning as well. Blackeye Susan’s means justice and mint means virtue. The rose is a symbol of love but the colour of the rose has different meanings altogether.
(The Old Farmer’s Almanac )
A bridal bouquet of red roses and baby’s breath is an collective expression meaning “I love you purely”. Likewise, a flower in the button hole of the groom is an extension of the Medieval tradition of a knight wearing his lady’s colours declaring his love and their relationship.
“As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters” Song of Solomon 2 verse 2
Lily = happiness or unconscious sweetness
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