Our story continues…
When Cupid fell in love with Psyche, romantic love did not yet exist among humans, and among the gods it had not yet developed the familiar signs we so easily recognize today. In fact, Cupid was the first to ever demonstrate his love in ways that are now quite common. Cupid, for instance, began visiting Psyche every night with roses and boxes of chocolates. Everyone else since then has been a copycat. As a result of Cupid’s new and unique expressions of love, Psyche was swept off her feet.
Cupid and Psyche were at the peak of romantic love when Psyche noticed something that bothered her deeply. She noticed that Cupid loved no one but her. Psyche had made it her purpose in life to love others, and she wanted Cupid to share in this. Night after night Psyche lay in bed tossing and turning, wondering how she could still have strong feelings of romantic love for Cupid and at the same time live with his inability to love others.
Finally, she confronted Cupid with her problem. Cupid then told her the story of how his mother was jealous of her and sought to ruin her with an arrow but the arrow instead struck him causing him to love only her. Psyche immediately had pity for Cupid. She said, “Cupid, if you were not cursed, would you love others?” Cupid replied that he would and that he found Psyche’s love for others beautiful and inspiring even though he could never truly love others himself. Psyche then said, “Because I know that love for others is what you truly desire, I will not leave you so long as you promise me to do one favor.”
“What is that?” asked Cupid eagerly.
“Because you can love no one but me,” said Psyche, “I ask that out of this love you will help me spread the blessings and joys of romance throughout the world among humans. Cast a spell over your arrows that will cause whoever is struck to fall deep in love with another, but unlike the spell cast by your mother make this a spell that will allow people to still love others as family and friends. With these arrows of love, go out and sow the seeds of romance everywhere.” Out of love, Cupid did as she asked, and that, my friends, is the story of how humans came to know the passion of romantic love. It is also the story of why we think of cupid and his arrows of love every Valentine’s Day.
Lessons for Children:
While Valentine’s Day might make us think about romantic love, the story of Cupid also teaches us something about non-romantic love. Just like Cupid, it would be an absolute curse if we were not able to love others. Just think of how miserable each of us would be if it were not for love. Love is what makes our relationships with family and friends so special. It is part of what makes us want to live.
Another lesson the story of Cupid teaches about love is how great it is to have people whose love for others is beautiful and inspiring. That was the kind of love people saw in Psyche. For us as Christians, we are inspired by the love Jesus had for others. It is a great example for us and encourages us to be at our best. So this Valentine’s weekend, don’t just think about romantic love. Think about the kind of love that we see in Jesus and that makes our lives so rich and meaningful.