Oh, if it be to choose and call thee mine, love, thou art every

O children of the future, gather and hear the words of Thomas Hood, a poet whose soul stirred with the depth of love and whose heart beat with passion for the one who held it captive. He once spoke, “Oh, if it be to choose and call thee mine, love, thou art every day my Valentine!” In these words, there is a declaration, not just of affection, but of the eternal choice to love, to hold another in the deepest part of one’s being. Hood, with his simple yet powerful words, reminds us that love is not confined to a single day, but is a living, breathing commitment made every day, in every moment.

Consider, O children, the meaning of choice in love. To choose someone is a sacred act, a decision that goes beyond fleeting emotions or temporary feelings. It is a vow, a promise to honor and cherish another through time and change. Hood speaks of this choice with reverence, for love, when truly chosen, becomes something far greater than mere affection. It becomes an anchor, a bond that holds firm even in the most turbulent of seas. The idea that each day is a new Valentine’s Day is a powerful reminder that love is not a single event, but a daily practice—an ongoing decision to share your heart, to give of yourself, and to walk beside another soul in life’s journey.

Look, O seekers of wisdom, to the ancient tale of Orpheus and Eurydice. Orpheus, with his lyre and song, had the power to charm even the gods themselves. Yet, it was his deep, abiding love for Eurydice that drove him to venture into the very depths of the underworld. He chose to love her, not for a single moment, but for all eternity. And though he faltered in the end, looking back when he was warned not to, his love for her remained pure, his decision to bring her back from death a testament to the eternal choice to love. Orpheus’ song of grief, much like Hood’s words, speaks of love as a choice that transcends time, one that defies even death itself.

To love someone every day as one’s Valentine is not merely to engage in sweet gestures or token acts of affection, but to commit to the depth of that love. Consider the lives of John Adams and Abigail Adams, whose letters of love to one another have become some of the most poignant expressions of affection in history. Their love was not confined to grand gestures or a specific day, but was woven into the very fabric of their lives. In their correspondence, we find not only affection, but also respect, admiration, and an unwavering commitment to one another. This, too, was their choice—to love each other in both times of peace and war, in times of triumph and struggle. Their love, much like Hood’s words, was a daily declaration, a promise made again and again.

In our own lives, O children, the lesson is clear: love is not a one-time act, but a daily choice. To choose someone as your Valentine is to say, “You are mine, and I choose you not just on this day, but every day, in every moment.” This commitment to love is what strengthens relationships, what binds souls together and creates a foundation that can withstand the trials of time. For love, when chosen daily, becomes a force that not only elevates the self, but also lifts the other, bringing out the very best in them, as well as in you.

Therefore, let us take Hood’s wisdom to heart: to love is to choose, to commit, and to honor that love every day. When you choose to love, you choose not only the person you love, but also the self that loves them. You choose to invest in the relationship, to nurture it, to tend to it as you would a garden, watching it grow and bloom with each passing day. Love, when chosen, is not bound by the confines of a single day or a single gesture, but is a living, breathing force that exists in every moment of every day.

So, O seekers of wisdom, I charge you: let love be a daily commitment, not a fleeting event. Choose your Valentine every day, with your actions, with your words, and with your heart. May your love be a testament to the power of choice, to the strength of your commitment, and to the eternal beauty of a love that endures, forever and always. And in doing so, you will find that Valentine’s Day is not just a single day on the calendar, but a life lived in love, every day, for all eternity.