A Day of Love

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. This holiday in particular shines a spotlight on the romantic relationship status of all of us – whether we like it or not! This year you may be a newlywed, giddy in love. You may be dating and surrounded by flowers, stuffed animals, and chocolate. You may be missing someone and remembering those days with tears. You may be celebrating Galentine’s Day with a bunch of your single girl friends (guys, because they’re guys, don’t celebrate “Broentine’s” Day).

I’ve experienced a variety of Valentine’s Days. Yes, romance and being in love (I know from experience!) is like floating on a cloud in a world shared by two. But if you are “one” or your relationship isn’t going very well this year, you may wish you could skip right over it to February 15th.

Let’s think about an alternative. A few years ago, I decided to take all the pressure off myself and think of it as A Day of Love instead. When I did, I realized how one-size-doesn’t-fit-all on this day, just like Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. A percentage of people fit the “target audience” but there are many more who don’t, so why not open it up for everyone to celebrate love?!

My first stop of the day is easy. Valentine’s Day was also my Mom’s birthday 🙂 I know the “Mom topic” can also stir things up, but I was blessed with a keeper for sure. I was born from love and that love is the reason I’m here. If your Mom – or Dad – is or was a challenge to love, they may not have had much love in their life to give. It’s a good day to share some of yours with them anyway because they need it too!

A Day of Love is FULL of possibilities! Be creative!

• Make a special home-cooked meal with love for yourself and celebrate you, or invite a friend (or friends) over to share it.
• Make extra when you cook and bring it to a neighbor who’s spending the day alone.
• Call a friend you haven’t spoken with in forever and reconnect your friendship.
• Get a bunch of Valentine’s cards and write words of care and encouragement in them for people in a nearby nursing home and drop them off or hand them out. My Bible study group did this several years on several holidays and for many, it was the only one they got. 
• Pick up some groceries at the store and donate them to a food pantry or a neighbor in need.
• Donate your time helping someone, somewhere, somehow.

When we show love to others and ourselves, we allow God’s love to flow through us. It comes from Him to give away in an infinite amount. It brings comfort. Healing. Joy.

Best of all, A Day of Love can be any day – even every day – not just February 14th.

1 Corinthians 16:14 says, “Do everything in love.”

RESET HIGHER: Take some time to be thankful to God for giving His love to us so we can share it with others. Give some of yours away today and feel it multiply as it returns to you!