Christmas has passed and church congregations are gearing up for the next season. It's not Lent or Easter, but Valentine's Day. V-Day is a time when couples reflect upon their love. It's also a time to consider whether single people are given proper consideration.

Churches and Christian groups are in the midst of defending traditional marriage in the courts. It is important, but singles often get overlooked in the process. This V-Day might be a time to remember that singles are not second-class Christians.

All singles are not in the Joe Millionaire or The Bachelorette hunt for a soul mate. Many are happy. Others need close friendships that haven't naturally arisen from their relationships with other family members in the church or fellowship groups.

It is time to remember that love throughout a lifetime comes in a variety of forms. The Corinthians passage used at weddings describes the genuine spirit of love between all people, even in non-romantic situations. Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It is not rude. Love is not self-seeking. It keeps no record of wrongs. V-Day, and the discussions on marriage, should include reflection on what love means in all relationships, not just romantic ones.

Valentine's Day gives churches a chance to reflect on relationship building and the phases of love in relationships between husband and wives. This V-Day, we also need to consider some real ways-not the sugarcoating of roses and heart-shaped boxes of candy-to express love to single people who aren't being “romanced.”

While the romantic love between a couple who is “in love” almost makes other forms of love appear less special or wonderful, it only lasts for a short time. Later in life, many couples try to recreate the phase when they saw their partner at his or her best. While their love might be deep, time makes that apparent.

There's something more than spiritual resolve or divine intervention at work in the best of times that carries couples through the worst of times. That something, call it a mystery, is a gift that God's given each couple. You are the only person who is supposed to know and appreciate your spouse in a specific way or to a specific degree-marriage vows or a legal definition of marriage cannot fully contain or capture what that can look like over a lifetime.

A group of Christian organizations, alarmed at legal changes to the definition of marriage, have churches contemplating new ways to affirm marriage. Marriage on the Rock is an event coinciding with Valentine's Day that aims to help churches discuss marriage as gifts from God.

That same discussion can apply to single people too, although it assumes a different form and tone. The joy of love doesn't come from duty or spiritual teaching but from the beauty and appreciation of another soul.

Romantic gestures are one way of doing that, showing a spouse that he or she is of value and are appreciated. Single people need to feel that appreciation too. The Bible is full of expressions of individuals' love relationship with God.