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Greetings! Allow me to introduce myself: I'm Cupid, that little flying baby you see all over the place every February. Yes, that guy. I know, you get sick of seeing me. If you're not dating anyone, seeing my face makes you cringe. If you are, my image pressures you to buy that perfect lovey-dovey card/ flower bouquet/box of candy. But really, that's just my marketing team. That's not how I want to be known.

In fact, that's why I'm writing. I'm afraid I've gotten a bad rap. I'm even sick of me and I am me. But here's the thing: The real Cupid J. Valentine isn't just some half-naked flying tot trying to make people all lovey-dovey. I'm just a normal guy (well, besides the flying thing) who thinks love is pretty cool. However, the messages I'm trying to put out there have been all twisted. So, I'm gonna set the record straight about myself and this whole love thing in general.

1. I'm not a baby. I just look young. And I'm a little vertically challenged.
2. I wear pants. How would you like it if everyone thought you only wore diapers? Pretty annoying, huh? It's as if I have trouble with my digestive system or something. I don't. I'm not even sure how this whole diaper-only thing started. After all, Valentine's Day is in February! If I just wore a diaper all the time, I'd get frostbite.
3. I don't have any magic arrows. I think this whole arrow thing started when I took archery in school. However, they were normal arrows—not pink ones with hearts for tips. Just ask my gym teacher: I did shoot him in the rear once (accidentally). I'll tell ya: Love was the last thing on his mind. In fact, you know the myth that my arrows will make you fall in love with the first person you see? Well actually, maybe the myth should be that my arrows make you give a detention to the first person you see. That's what really happened.
   Besides, there's no way "Magic Love Arrows" could possibly work. You can't make anyone fall in love—especially with weapons and sharp objects. That's not how love works. In fact, it kinda chaps my hide (which, again, is in pants) that love is made out to be just some instant, magical feeling. Most of this Valentine's Day/romantic movie stuff makes it seem like falling in love is only about a magical moment when fireworks go off, cartoon birds sing, and everything is happy-ever-after without any effort or trouble. But real romantic love isn't just about feelings and romance. It's about truly getting to know each other, making the choice to love, working on your relationship and committing to one another. It can hurt. It can be messy. And it can be tough. It's about work, forgiveness, respect, and making another person a higher priority than yourself. Sticking you with arrows won't do that.
4. Love isn't just for couples. This is probably the misconception about me and Valentine's Day that most bugs me. If I had some of those Magical Love Arrows, I'd shoot everyone in the world—not to make them fall in love with one person but so they'd love everyone. I don't want people to see those pictures of my cute baby face and think, I really need a boyfriend/girlfriend. That's not what's important—especially in high school. Instead, I want people to realize that every moment is a chance to love the way 1 Corinthians 13 describes. Those verses aren't for couples—they're to help all of us realize what love really is. It is the way we handle ourselves every day. Love isn't selfish. It's not jealous or rude. It's kind and patient. It's not judgmental or condemning. It's about giving people a chance and helping when you can. It's supportive, loyal and trusting. And it never fails. That's real love—the kind of love God calls us to and Jesus modeled.

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