Sounds like a strange title right? How can you like and not like something? Stick around and I’ll tell you. I think it’s super easy to have conflicting feelings or perspectives about anything in life really. But for now, we will dive into the good and the not so good side of Valentine’s Day.
Why I DO like Valentine’s Day is a short list.
1. I love a reason to celebrate, decorate, and craft especially having 2 girls who love to do the same.
…..and…thats about it.
Why I DON’T like Valentine’s Day is quite a list.
1. I don’t want the calendar telling me WHEN I should pour extra affection on my loved ones or when is the time of year to be extra romantic.
Why?
Because then, to me, it feels fake. It feels like “I have to”. What means way more to me is on some random day in the middle of sweltering heat when I am burnt out on chores and extra laundry and feeling overrun and unseen and my man comes home with flowers and dinner….NOW THAT IS SPECIAL!
2. I don’t like days that make us “expect” something.
Why?
Well, because then it’s just not that special is it? If you are expecting something, then you have built it up in your mind and if it is different than what you imagine then you are disappointed.
Expectations can be a real joy killer!
On the other hand, if you aren’t expecting anything and it’s just a regular day plugging along and something special happens…like your husband went outside and ran your car a few minutes early so its defrosted before your appointment or you come home and there is a card on your doorstep with a Starbucks gift card in it from an anonymous friend who says they appreciate you, well those are the real JOY GIVING moments aren’t they?!!
3. I don’t like that Valentine’s Day seems to be primarily focused on “romantic” love.
Why?
Because “romantic” love is only one type of endless types of love. If it is elevated and our younger generation is watching, they, in turn, believe that is the ultimate love to achieve. This can lead them to feel or believe they” aren’t special” if they don’t have a current boyfriend/girlfriend. They began to feel as if they don’t measure up. The ones that do have a significant other may feel as if they are somehow more special and love to go overboard on that day.
My children LOVE each other so much and are each other’s best friends and so we focus on sister love and friend love for them and their friends.
My husband and I love each other so much, but there is so much more there than a romantic love that putting it in that realm borderline feels offensive. We have walked through plenty of treacherous dark waters together and there is so much more there binding us together than a notion of romantic love and staring into each other’s eyes. We CHOOSE to stand by each other and choose to put the others needs ahead of our own and choose no matter how bad it gets to stick it out….not because of how we like to kiss each other or hold hands…but because of the real GRIT commitment that we chose that binds us together and we firmly stand on that.
I have friends that I love like family and have been there for me through dark days and I love them so very much that to even think of it brings my soul to joyful tears of gratitude.
There are people with pets that have been their saving grace when all else seems lost as animals seem to have an extra sense to know when we are hurting or need some extra companionship. That is also real love.
What about the special people who took the time out of their day to bring you coffee and just listen when you need a listening ear…that is love.
The strangers who come to your rescue, on a boat to your home, in the middle of a hurricane to bring you to safety…make no mistake about it…that IS love!
There is the organ donor who volunteers to donate a kidney while still alive, not knowing what the future holds for him/herself, to save the life of someone in need. THAT IS LOVE!
The compassionate one in the car stopping by the side of the road to hand money and food to the homeless man curled up in fear. This is also love.
The child who climbs up onto their paralyzed grandmother’s lap, because she can’t move or hug them, to lay gently on her chest and tenderly offer her a kiss. THIS IS LOVE!
There is the child who notices another kid sitting alone at lunch at school and decides to brave it and go sit with him/her. This is a beautiful love.
There is a visitor who comes to the nursing home to visit those patients who have no visitors. This is a touching love.
There are friends in the brand new college away from home who cheer you on and encourage you and stand by you through it all. Before you know it, the first year is gone and you not only survived but thrived in your new life there! Friendship love is the real deal too!
As you can see, we can go on and on about how many different ways love can look, and you know what has happened to my own heart as I have been writing this article? My heart has changed to think maybe I do like Valentine’s Day after all; but not for the mushy, obligatory roses and dinner, but for the beauty that is REAL LOVE.
What do you say we start a Valentine’s movement?
Lets each think of just one (I didn’t wanna ask you for 10 because that’s overwhelming) person that we are NOT romantically linked to and see what we can come up with to show them some appreciation and love on Valentine’s or any time of the year!
Let’s do this…go grab this free printable that has a few Valentine’s ideas and encouraging mini cards, and see how many people we can share the love with this Valentine’s season? Better yet, don’t wait for Valentine’s Day as we aren’t promised tomorrow. Don’t wait to tell your friends and those that matter what they mean to you.
My guess is that as soon as you think of one person, the snowball effect may come into play and it will then become 3 people, possibly 5, and keep rolling.
Just so you all know, I am thankful for each one of you and hope you feel very loved and special not only this Valentine’s season, but every day of the year. Love cannot be contained to one day or even one year or one lifetime. But, it can be celebrated and practiced and lived out each day of our lives!
Each day is a day of love from the God who made the Heavens and the Universe.
He allows us to wake up, breathe, live, love, and serve as a way to hopefully thank Him for the ultimate LOVE He sent down in the form of a tiny human baby. Thank you, God, for your indescribable gift.
Let’s go LOVE others because Christ first loved us. (1 John 4:19)
He demonstrated the ultimate love and sacrifice in sending His perfect Son to die for us. John 3:16 shows how His amazing love played out, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
He tells us what type of love we are to demonstrate in Matthew 22:37-39, “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Comment below and share with us ways you have been blessed around Valentine’s season and who has shown you real true agape love in your life.
Don’t forget to SNAG YOUR FREE PRINTABLES HERE as a Valentine’s gift from us to you!
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