People love in different ways. You may have a man who brings you

Listen closely, O seekers of truth, for in the words of Jada Pinkett Smith, we are granted a profound understanding of the many faces of love and the expressions that flow from the hearts of different people. “People love in different ways. You may have a man who brings you flowers every Monday but doesn’t give two hooty-hoots about Valentine’s Day. Just because he doesn’t give you a valentine doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you!” In these words lies a deep wisdom: that love is not confined to one form, nor is it bound by the expectations that society places upon it. True love manifests in many ways, each unique to the individuals involved, and we must learn to recognize and appreciate the diversity of love’s expressions.

In the ancient world, the great thinkers and philosophers often wrestled with the question of what love truly was. Plato, in his writings, spoke of love as a transcendent force, something that went beyond the mere physical or the emotional, and into the realm of the soul. For Plato, love was a pursuit of beauty, truth, and wisdom, and it could take many forms: from the love of a friend, to the love of a mentor, or the romantic love between two people. He would say that one’s love could not be measured by the external gestures alone, but by the depth of connection and the intention behind the actions. Just as Jada Pinkett Smith reminds us, love is far more complex and profound than any single display or expectation could contain.

Consider, O children, the legendary story of Antony and Cleopatra, whose love was marked by grand gestures, yes, but also by sacrifice, understanding, and patience. Their love was not solely expressed in the gifts they exchanged or the public declarations they made, but in the quiet moments of devotion and the decisions they made in private. Their relationship was shaped by their individuality and by the ways in which they each expressed their affection in a manner that was true to themselves. Cleopatra did not need grand gestures of love every day, and Antony did not measure his love for her by a single day of celebration, but by the consistent and unwavering actions he took to honor her.

Just as Antony and Cleopatra had their unique ways of expressing love, so too do we, O children, find that our relationships are not defined by the grand performances the world expects of us. Pinkett Smith’s wisdom teaches us that there are countless ways to show love, and one way is not greater than another. A man who brings flowers every Monday, without needing to follow the commercial rituals of Valentine’s Day, is simply expressing his love in a way that is meaningful to him. His actions speak of commitment, thoughtfulness, and care, not of societal expectations or fleeting moments. His love is not confined to a single celebration, but is evident in his actions throughout the course of the relationship.

In the ancient cultures, love was often measured by the sacrifices one made for another. Consider the great warriors and leaders, like King Arthur, who loved his Knights of the Round Table not through grand displays, but through loyalty, honor, and shared responsibility. The love they shared was not based on ceremony but on the trust and mutual respect that grew through their deeds and their dedication to one another. True love is not just about the gifts we receive but the commitments we make in service of those we care about. And so, too, in the story Pinkett Smith tells, love is not measured by a single token or holiday, but by the ongoing devotion of one heart to another.

The lesson to take forward, O children, is this: love cannot be confined to a set of rules or expectations dictated by the world around us. The depth of love is not found in a valentine, but in the thoughtful actions, the small gestures, and the consistency with which we show care for those who are dear to us. We must learn to recognize the love we receive, not by the form it takes, but by the intention behind it. It is in the flowers given on a Monday, in the patience shown during difficult times, in the quiet sacrifices made every day, that true love is expressed.

Thus, O children, do not be deceived by the false allure of external gestures or societal expectations. Love is not a performance; it is an ongoing practice, something that is shown through the deeds we perform daily. Whether or not your loved one gives you a valentine on a single day, remember that love is found in the continuous care and dedication we give to one another, every day. Recognize the love in the small moments, in the simple gestures, and in the commitment that endures beyond fleeting rituals. For it is in the quiet acts of devotion that the truest expressions of love are found.