NFL Star Benjamin Watson on Christ and True Love for St. Valentine’s Day

Last updated on: February 14, 2015 at 2:07 pm by Kate O'Hare

NFL Star Benjamin Watson on Christ and True Love for St. Valentine’s Day 2015-02-14T14:07:25-08:00 Kate O'Hare

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Ever since he wrote a thoughtful, heartfelt post about the unfortunate events in Ferguson, Missouri, I’ve been following the Facebook page of New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson, and I wrote about his lovely sentiments for New Year’s Day.

An outspoken Christian, husband and father of four, Watson continues to hit them out of the park. Here’s his current post, on St. Valentine’s Day and the nature of real love:

I can vividly remember those grade school ‪#‎ValentinesDay‬ cards. As the big day neared the whole school would be abuzz with anticipation. Who would get what from who? More importantly, “What would I get from who. And would I get it from the person I wanted to get it from. Because I’m surely going to give them something and don’t want to be left hanging!”

By the end of Valentine’s Day it didn’t take a genius to figure out who the most popular kids were. They had the boxes of mint chocolates sold by the school store, the multicolored heart tarts, and a bag full of Barbie, Ninja Turtle, and Disney Valentine’s Day cards. (I wasn’t the most popular but I did I alright if I do say so myself!).

From childhood we are inundated with images of Eros love. We are taught that this passionate, sexually driven love is by all accounts; TRUE love. As adults we operate in this fallacy in our marriages and dating relationships. We “fall in and out of love.” Like a bonfire on the beach the flame surges into the night sky only to dwindle to nothing if left unattended.

Eros love is very important when it comes to healthy marriages. God created sex, desire and attraction as a gift that keeps on giving….literally (babies). But it is just the beginning. True love is an action. Picture that bonfire on the beach again. The wood is tied together and doused with flammable fluid. It is lit and bursts into orange and yellow flames which begin to consume and burn. To keep this fire providing the warmth and light it was designed for, specific ACTION must take place. Wood MUST be added to the fire. Without this continued action, we all would correctly expect this fire to cease to exist. With action, though, this fire will continued to burn, and even burn MORE INTENSELY.

The Bible says in John 3, that God loved the world so much that he GAVE his one and only Son. Romans 5 tells us that God DEMONSTRATES his love for us in this. While we were still sinners Christ DIED for us. 1 Corinthians 13 reminds us that love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and it endures all things. Love never fails.

Love is an ACTION that always seeks the best for the recipient. Contrary to popular belief it is possible to love without feeling like it. It is possible to love, when the object can offer nothing in return.

Love is selfless. Lust is selfish
Love gives. Lust takes
Love grows. Lust fizzles.

In many ways, love has been cheapened and perverted into something that it is not. I think we have all fallen for the love lie at some point in our lives. Maybe we are battling through it right now. In order for our relationships to provide the warmth and light they were designed for they MUST be tended to. Even a smoldering relationship on the verge of extinction can be brought back from embers to inferno! But it takes ACTION.

This Valentine’s Day lets evaluate our love for our spouses, children and friends and make a commitment to make changes where we need to.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Wouldn’t we love to have him and his beautiful family cross the Tiber? After all, he’s already a Saint …

Photos: Facebook: Benjamin Watson Official

Previous Post

February 13, 2015

'All About Sex' With Cradle Catholic Heather McDonald

Next Post

February 16, 2015 ISIS and the End Times: What the Media Should Be Doing

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category books breaking news digital media Faith practice food interview jane the virgin media movies music NFL Pope Francis Showbiz 101 social media sports technology television Uncategorized video

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz