“Nonseasonal Love”
February 14, 2022
The popular Valentine’s Day candy, Sweethearts, also known as conversation hearts, were discontinued in 2018 when the producing company, NECCO, went bankrupt. It nearly broke our hearts that for the very first time in 153 years, the iconic candy was missing from shelves. However, by 2021, Sweethearts, under new management, made their way back into our hearts and have decided to stay throughout 2022.
The classic flavors like strawberry, grape, orange and blue raspberry fill each box of candy and have favorite sayings like, “be mine” and “love you”, imprinted on each piece with red vegetable coloring. During this Valentine season, more than 19 million pounds of these pastel colored hearts will be sold.
As enjoyable an entertaining as Sweethearts can be, they run the risk of being fickle. The sentiments of love pressed into the candy can be as seasonal as the candy itself. Expressions of “be mine” and “love you” often melt away as quickly as the candy hearts dissolve in our mouths.
But not so with God. We read in Isaiah 43:1-3,
1But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
The context of these verses concerns Israel and their many fears and trials, but we have our fears and trials also. Our trials are varied in that sometimes we face waters, sometimes rivers, and sometimes fire. However, three precious words stand out in these verses and provide comfort—you are mine!
You are mine. When are we His?
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Through these words, God promises to be with us through any potential obstacle. In all of our figurative and literal waters, rivers, and fires, God promises to be with us, not as an observer, but as a Savior.
The original version of candy hearts was much bigger and larger than the tiny hearts we buy today. They could contain long phrases and not just one or two words. For example, some candy hearts sported, “MARRIED IN WHITE, YOU HAVE CHOSEN RIGHT” and “MARRIED IN SATIN, LOVE WILL NOT BE LASTING”. The original conversation hearts would have been large enough to contain God’s love for us and desire to be our Redeemer.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. “ – John 3:16
The sweetest conversational heart we can devour is the acceptance of God’s gift of eternal life. His gift is non-seasonal and unconditional. Why not have a heart to heart conversation, today, with the Creator and Redeemer of humankind!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Sheryl