Can you believe it’s February 1st? As always, here I am, wondering where January went (and why my Christmas tree is still up!). I think January partly goes so fast because we’re all recovering from the holidays. All the parties and food and shopping and family get-togethers. It’s enough to make you try to hibernate.
February might be one of my favorite months. My oldest was born in February, and where I live it’s the month of the year where we get our best chance for snow. Which still isn’t saying much. Most of our snowfalls over the last three winters haven’t even covered the grass.
A lot of people, though, don’t like February, do they? They’re sick of snow and cold — and then there’s that dreaded Valentine’s Day. Maybe they’re not married or dating, or their relationship is in a really bad place. Or they’re jaded or… There could be all kinds of reasons not to want to face Valentine’s Day.
Five years ago, we started homeschooling. My youngest wasn’t in school yet, but my other two were in fourth and sixth grade. They’d done traditional school up to that point. Meaning they’d enjoyed all the school parties.
See where this is going?
A week before Valentine’s day, one of the Awana leaders overheard my daughter talking to a friend about her friend’s school party. And she sounded upset, the leader thought, that she wasn’t going to have that party this year.
That got me thinking. My little girl wasn’t into boys in the least (still isn’t, thank goodness!) so that wasn’t the issue. She was just sad to be missing out on the fun.
But why couldn’t we have our own little Valentine’s Day party? And this is where I really got to thinking. Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be just about our significant other. My kids are precious to me. Why can’t I celebrate them on Valentine’s Day?
And so we did. We still had school, but after lunch, we got out a board game they loved. I’d actually bought Valentine’s cards for each of them, the exact kind kids give out at school, and then had lots of chocolate. I had Mad Libs and we ate candy, played the board game, and wrote crazy Mad Libs for a couple hours.
Five years later, they still talk about it.
I don’t know what your view on Valentine’s Day is, but I hope for you it’s become more than just that person you married. Who can you celebrate this month? Your parents? I don’t live near mine and don’t get to see them nearly as much as I’d like, but I can still do something on Valentine’s Day to let them know how much I love them. I can let my kids know that I’m thrilled to be their mom and love on them — and that they make my day when they love me back. I’ve got good friends in our church who mean so much to me and other family (who again I don’t live near).
That’s my challenge to you this month, especially if Valentine’s Day is a day you dread. Turn it around. Show the people who mean everything to you that they do mean everything to you. Show Christ’s love to people you work with, people who might even be giving you some issues. We’ve all got those, don’t we?
Let February be a month not about the mushy-gushies, but about letting people know how much we care. About giving some of ourselves to those around us.
Let this be a month full of you giving out love.
Sally Bradley writes big-city fiction with real issues and real hope. A Chicagoan since age five, Sally has been fascinated by all things Chicago (except for crime, politics, and traffic) for almost as long. She now lives in the Kansas City area with her family, but they get back to Chicago for important things -- like good pizza and a White Sox game. A freelance-fiction editor and former president of her writing chapter, Sally has won a handful of awards for Kept and another work-in-progress. Visit her online at sallybradley.com or on Facebook.
Here in the US, Valentine’s Day has become so commercialized, we’ve lost our focus on what the day represents. I’m with you, Sally!
A thought provoking blog about our response to Valentine’s Day. As a German American and retired high school teacher, I was saddened by how many students never had the opportunity to celebrate holidays, some never had dyed Easter eggs or carved a pumpkin. As German immigrants my parents embraced Valentine’s Day, Halloween, and Thanksgiving, even though these were not celebrated in Germany. As a young girl my parent’s were poor, but my father made sure I, his daughter, felt loved and special on Valentine’s Day, Easter, my birthday, and Christmas.
For Valentine’s Day I always received a card and gift. Most years I received a new pair of summer PJs, that he had picked out with my mom. The year I left for college, I asked my parents for a pair of pearl earrings to go with the pearl necklace I received for my 16th birthday. A few weeks before Valentine’s Day, in our weekly phone call, my mom told me that all the earrings were to expensive (I did not have pierced ears). On Valentine’s Day 1971, I had a package from home. What an awesome surprise, besides the card, and the homemade heart sugar cookies, there was a pair of pearl earring. WOW! I collected my quarters, ran to the dorm pay phone, and called home. My parents had continued to shop and had found a pair on sale at a local jewelry store. I treasure those earrings and still have them 45 years later. And even though my parents are deceased, I still feel their love.
I follow my parent’s tradition. My three sons and now their wives receive Valentine’s cards. This year for my daughter-in-law, who in the fall became the new principal of an elementary school, I am preparing Valentine’s for her entire staff. Last week I purchased inexpensive Valentine’s Day cards for my three grandchildren – ages 10, 8, and 2 1/2. I also bought small boxes of heart shaped chocolates with Snoopy on top. Everyone will receive a small gift and some money. I do the same for their birthdays, Easter, Halloween, and Christmas. I pray that they will feel our love and know God loves them.
What can we do for those around us on this day of love? A smile, a hug, an encouraging word. Through our words and deeds, may those around us will know God’s unconditional love. Have a blessed week.
I homeschooled my youngest, who is now a senior in college. Time flies by! We celebrated each year a little differently, but one year we had a tea party for her and the neighbor girls with antique pink china. They all loved it. It is a good reminder to plan to let those around us know they are loved.
Wow, Renate, thanks so much for sharing those memories!
Love this, Sally. A great reminder there are many kinds of love to celebrate on the 14th, including the great love Jesus has for us.
Great thoughts! Thank you. I’m not a fan of Valentine’s Day, but I really love what you had to say and I’m going to try it. It’s funny, I never buy my mom a Valentine’s Day card and did the other day–guess I’m on the right track. :)
Also, I love how you made that day so special for your kids.
I love LOVE! :-)
Thanks Valeria Comer. My husband reminded me often people dislike Valentine’s Day and other holidays because they are too commercial. The Bible tells us hope, faith, and the greatest is love; so we should embrace this day of love and make it our own. Spending time with those dear to us, shows love. Random acts of kindness. Today I baked heart shaped cookies with my 2 1/2 year old granddaughter, which she took some home to mom & dad and her older brothers. The smallest kindnesses often have the most lasting impressions.
Thank you for reminding us that Valentine’s Day should be fun instead of stressful!!
My daughter’s birthday is also in February, though she’s a leap year baby :-) (We celebrate it on Feb 28th on the non-leap years). We get together with her & take her to her favorite restaurant for dinner and dessert.
As far as Valentine’s day, I am married & we exchange cards and go to a nice dinner. But I feel you need to show your love to your spouse on a daily basis :-) I love finding notes on top of my bible in the morning while I’m doing my daily devotionals. I also like to text him a love note during the day so he can see it on his lunch break at work. We like to do things together, even if it’s just grocery shopping. Anytime we can spend together is investing in our love, building memories :-)
We can be such a narrow-minded society, can’t we? :)
Renata, what a great story! Thank you for sharing that.
And it’s showing love to those around us that blesses us so much, doesn’t it? What a wonderful gift you are to your friends and family!
Well, there you go, Valerie! Jesus’s love isn’t even one that crossed my mind there. But why can’t we include that too? Thanks for the reminder.
You just can’t go wrong showing love, can you? :)
Kimberly, I think maybe you and I are a lot alike! :D I still find myself not wanting to take the time to do the annual Valentine’s Day party–I have work to do–but it matters to my kids. So I need to make it matter to me. My son, a high schooler no less, has already asked if we’re going to do the party. So yes we are!
LOL, Melissa! Then February is your month!
Yes, definitely fun, fun, fun!!!
Trixi, you are so right! Can you imagine if we only showed love to our honeys one day a year? Would not be pretty!
Thanks for sharing some of the things you guys do. Every couple has their own unique love language, don’t they? I especially love when Steve and I drive somewhere together. We talk a lot when we drive. Not that we don’t talk at home, but for some reason, driving has turned into a really excellent time for us to talk completely undistracted. Other than paying attention to driving, of course. :)