With candy aisles stocked to the brim with pink and red boxes of chocolate, Valentine’s Day must be here! And while CNN promotes personalized mementos, matching underwear, and date night cooking classes for the occasion, there is something so much more being offered to us. This year, make the day about ashes. In 2024, Valentine’s Day falls on Ash Wednesday — the day marking the beginning of the season of Lent. Both days are meant to remind us of what is most important: our relationship with God and our relationships with each other.
Americans are busier than ever, and many say they don’t have time to slow down. We know that when things are hectic, we can easily forget the “why” that makes up the foundation of our lives. This year, the ashes of Valentine’s Day can help us be more intentional about what is most important.
On the first day of Lent, ashes are sprinkled on the foreheads of all believers while one of two phrases is spoken: “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return,” or “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” The death of Jesus Christ casts a shadow over the entire season of Lent. The day is marked with ashes to remind us that we will die one day as well. Remembering the imminence of death is meant to bring contemplation and clarity about how we are living.
Valentine’s Day, on the other hand, is a chance to take stock of our relationships,
