The Legend of Esther Howland

Have you ever heard of Esther Howland? You will before I am done today. It is already February 09, today. This coming Monday is Valentine’s Day. Remember bringing home a paper bag full of valentines from your classmates in elementary school? How about the candy hearts emblazoned with “You Rock,” “Be mine,” and “Awesome”? That was fun, but not that easy today, right guys? I do hope you husbands out there are getting something for your precious bride. Do you wonder who this Valentine was that forces me to spend money on flowers and candy every February 14? 

Valentinus was a clergyman – either a priest or a bishop – in the Roman Empire. Not a lot is known about him. One common story is that in one point of his life, as the former Bishop of the towns of Terni, Narnia (an ancient hilltown in central Italy) and Amelia, he was under house arrest by order of a Judge Asterius. While discussing religion and faith with the Judge, Valentinus spoke about the validity of Jesus. Intrigued, but skeptical, the judge chose to immediately put the bishop and his faith to the test. Asterius presented his blind daughter to Valentinus and told him to restore her sight. If he succeeded, the judge vowed, he would do anything Valentinus requested. Placing his hands onto her eyes, the bishop restored the child’s vision. Judge Asterius was amazed, humbled and obeyed Valentinus’ requests. Asterius broke all the idols around his house, fasted for three days and became baptized, along with his family and entire forty-four-member household. The now faithful judge then freed all of his Christian inmates.

Later, when Claudius Gothicus (Claudius II) became emperor, he found himself having trouble filling the number of conscriptions needed for his military. One reason was because men over thirty with young children were commonly exempted from service. In response to this, a law was enacted making it illegal for a Roman soldier to wed. As the story goes, Valentinus defied the order and continued to secretly perform the weddings of young soldiers who were in love. Claudius had Valentinus imprisoned. While incarcerated, Valentinus, the legend says, fell in love with the jailer’s daughter. Before he was executed in 269, it is said he sent her a note and signed it, “Love, your Valentine.” For continuing to marry those in love against the orders of an emperor and the note he sent the jailer’s daughter, Valentine is remembered as a defender of love.

So, who is Esther Howland? Esther Allen Howland, from Worcester, Massachusetts, was the first person in the United States to send a Valentine’s Day card in the 1840s. She convinced her father and brother to help sell her homemade Valentine cards. Her simple cards sold only for five cents. Cards that included ribbons, artistic illustrations, hidden doors, gilded lace, and interior envelopes that could hold more secret messages, locks of hair or even engagement rings, sold from one dollar to fifty dollars! At the time, that was a considerable amount of money. Esther was so successful she founded the New England Valentine Company. So, yeah, guys, you can blame it all on her.

The Bible reminds us, “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

So, remember this Valentine’s Day, show that someone special in your life. Someone you love deeply. Tell them how you feel. You don’t really have to buy anything. (Though, we are selling homemade chocolates Renée and I made as a fund raiser for our Haiti Missionaries, which would work really well.) Nonetheless, just send a card, a text, an email, make a phone call. Tell that someone they are important to you. However, as important as they are, if you are a husband, I would recommend something more than words.

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