Think again - Our problems,our solutions - Make love a national core value!

VALENTINE'S DAY reminds all of us of the power of love! History tells us that Emperor Claudius II was having a hard time getting soldiers to join the army. The main reason, it seemed, was the high value Romans had towards staying with their loved ones and families. As a result, Claudius canceled all marriages and engagements in Rome.

Saint Valentine was a priest in Rome in the days of Claudius II. He secretly encouraged engagements and married couples even though it was temporarily against the law! Saint Valentine was one day caught and condemned to death.

As Saint Valentine was held in jail, many young people came to visit him. They threw flowers and notes up to his window as their expression of support for him and the value he placed on love. One of his young visitors was the daughter of the prison guard. Her father allowed her to actually visit Valentine in his cell. Their long talks kept his spirits lifted during that difficult time. On the day he was to die, Saint Valentine left his friend a little note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. He signed it, "Love from your Valentine" on the day he died, February 14, 269 AD.

Custom began

That note, some historians believe, started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine's Day.

The National Transformation Programme invites you this month to continue this valued custom by embracing and expressing our national core value - love!

The invitation is not just to fall in love but to grow to love.

We invite you not just to make love, but to show love.

Growing to love and showing love are deliberate choices!

Choose to be patient with someone.

Choose to be kind to someone who you think may not deserve your kindness.

Choose to show appreciation to a co-worker, subordinate or employee.

Choose to love someone in your community by repaying their evil act with your loving action!

Maybe Jamaica will be the place to live, work, raise families and do business, when every citizen makes love a national core value! What do you think?
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