It's Valentine's Day again. Hearts and flowers day. The day that every man in America dreads.

It's time to go to the store, ladies, and scope out that perfume we want. That box of chocolates. That ten foot teddy bear with the funny top hat and the 3 piece suit on. You know. The squishy one.

What does this holiday mean anyway?

I remember being a teenager and going to school on Valentine's Day. It was a flower shop in my homeroom. Everywhere there were boquets, balloons, candy. And there was always the girl who got it all. A mountain of flowers. About 10-15 balloons. And so much candy she could open a confectioner's shop.

And then there was me.

While other people were rejoicing over their good fortune, smelling their roses and stuffing themselves with Godiva (imitation Godiva) chocolates, I was in a corner lamenting my fate. Flower-less. Chocolate-less. Balloon-less. The only thing I had in abundance was my tears.

What does this holiday mean anyway?

College. The new frontier. My roommate had a boyfriend who gave her a boquet of flowers a week. (She loved me so much, she asked me to arrange them for her. I became a free florist.) So, on Valentine's day, the room was covered with them. It was a florist's nightmare.

And me? Well, I got a jewelry box. From my mother.

I saw the lengths women would go through to get a gift. There were actually women who believed in the "Valentine's Day breakup rule" - break up with your boyfriend after Valentine's Day so you will still get a gift. There were private competitions to see who would get the most gifts from the most guys. And after the day was over, they would gloat. (February 15 has always been "Gloat Day", hadn't you heard?)

But they wouldn't be happy.

News flash, men. Valentine's Day gifts will not make your woman truly happy. (Still, you'd better get her one.) You spend tens, hundreds, dare I say thousands, of dollars and she still isn't happy? How?

What does this holiday mean, anyway?

Consider the following.

The Price Of Love

Exactly how much does it take
To win your heart
What is the price of love?

A young girl stood
Regally
With a look of disdain
As her suitors looked upon her
And frostilly said to them
"How much do you love me?"

The first stepped forward
"My lady, I come
With chocolates and balloons
Teddy bears and flowers
Perfume and pretty trinkets
The world is your oyster
All that money can buy is yours"
And he placed his gifts
Upon the altar of her heart.

She perused his offerings
With mild amusement
"64 Godiva chocolates, $120.00
1 dozen roses, $24.99
A 5 foot bear with an "I love you" sign
$50.00. A diamond ring
Marquise cut, $2000.00.
And my favorite perfume -- Chloe.
That's $75.00."
"Yes," he said. "And it's all for you."
She laughed and sent him away
In confusion because
He was sure that $2269.99
($2428.89 with tax)
Could win her heart.

Placing a chocolate in her mouth
(the little cream filled kind)
She munched thoughtfully
As she regarded her next suitor
"How much do you love me?"
He looked at her with a smile
"I offer to you
A night of love
Between satin sheets
Perfumed candles casting playful shadows
Over the two of us
The chance to recline in luxury
As I feed you chocolate covered delicasies
And we shall fall asleep
In satiated bliss
On downy pillows."

She contemplated the offer
That he laid before her
And almost angrily
Rejected him
"You talk of love
But desire only sex
And physical unions are never complete
Between strangers. Do not offer me a corrupted version
Of a sacred act
And label it love."
And the second suitor left dismayed
Sure in his heart
He had offered his best to her.

The girl sighed
And regarded the last
Who stood before her with outstreached arms
And regally asked him "How much do you love me?"

He smiled at her
With captivating eyes
"I offer you my life."
Silence.
"What do you mean, your life?
What are you saying?
Total confusion marred her features.
The last suitor walked towards her.
"I'll give you my whispers in the sunrise
And kisses through the stars
My love will wipe away your tears
And count every one.
I'll give you the gifts you need
The intimacy you crave
And more
For I'll lay down my life for you
And seal this promise
With my blood."
His eyes grew serious.
"Will you reject me, too?"

She looked at him skeptically
"You'd die for me?"
He smiled again.
"I already have."
And he showed her
Nail-scarred hands and feet
A forehead marred with thorn-inflicted wounds
And a back covered with stripes.

He reached out his hand
And with infinate gentleness
She took it in her own
Sealing the pact
That his love had paid for.

The price of love
Is far more
Than money could ever buy
More than sex could ever bring
But the price of love
Can only be truly paid
By placing your life on the line.

Valentine's Day. A day to celebrate love. Can you truly say you love someone with a flower? A piece of candy? A balloon? A teddy bear?

This Valentine's Day will be different for me. I may or may not give gifts. I may or may not get gifts. But, I know that I already have all the love I need. No monetary gift could ever compare with the gift God gave us. No simple item could compare to the sacrifice of Jesus' life.

What do you think this holiday really means??

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