I LOVE Valentine’s Day!  Well, when I say “love” I mean it in the pejorative sense like when we say, “I love Chocolate” (which I do by the way) or when we say, “I’d love to go to the commissary with you” (which I don’t by the way).  This little word love conveys so much meaning and hides so many connotations that it is sometimes difficult to understand what someone means when they use it.  But I’m off of the subject.  What I mean when I say, “I love Valentine’s Day” is that I really enjoy the celebration of the day.

Think about how special this day is.  People stop and share some deep emotional feelings with one another, and that is a wonderful occurrence.  And as long as I’ve been around, it seems to have been this way.  I remember telling people they were special when I was in grade school.  Before Valentine’s Day, Mom would take me to the store and I would get a box of 25 valentines that said things like “Be my valentine,” or “You’re awesome valentine,” or maybe “You’re the greatest valentine.”  Then we’d address the cards to my classmates, and the next day in school, at the properly designated time, my classmates and I would swap our cards.  Going around to each desk, we’d drop the cards in that person’s shoebox receptacle and hurry back to our own desk to count our growing collection.  Oh, I knew that no one really meant the words that were printed on the cards (except maybe that brown haired girl in the front row who kept looking at me yuk!)  But the paper cut outs made me feel special just the same.  When the cards were counted one year I exclaimed, “Twenty-three!  I collected twenty-three valentines!”  A perfect score.  One from everyone in the class and the teacher as well.  I felt great!

One thing, however, I never understood back then was why my Mom made me get a card for everyone in my class.  It was obvious that there were some people in my class that I did not want to be my valentine.  But Mom made me get a card for everybody.  Sure, I sifted through the package and gave the strange kids all the “You’re nice” cards and “Happy Valentine’s Day” non-committal verses.  I mean, I didn’t want them to get the wrong idea.  And sure enough, some of those kids would only get two or three cards.  One from the teacher of course, she had to be nice to them, and a few more from kids like me who’s Moms made them give cards.  But I still didn’t get it.  Who really understands their parents anyway?

Well, many years have passed now and as I recall those grade school days, I can’t help but think about those children who used to sit next to me, those outside my world.  As a parent now, I think of the Mom’s and Dad’s who loved them and who hurt because their children were not the popular, special children.  I think about how they may not have looked forward to Valentine’s day the way I did because that day only served to remind them that life could be hard and unlovely.  And as I think about those children I cannot help but see them around me still today.  They are those people who are outside of our lives, unloved and unknown. They struggle with the same issues and challenges of life yet they often do so all alone.  It is definitely a sad thought on Valentine’s Day.

But then I hear that voice.  The one that echoed from my Mother’s lips so long ago.  The sweet yet forceful words that insisted I give a card to everyone whether I wanted to or not.  The precious words of wisdom that taught me that love is not a feeling but an act of commitment to others. It is the voice of the eternal loving God who says to me today, “Love them!  Love them all!  Commit yourself to the care of all of my people whether you feel like it or not.  Reach beyond yourself and give away your heart just like I have done.”  And that is when I get excited about Valentine’s Day.  I am thrilled when I realize again that love is not a passing fancy or exclamation of delight.  Nor is love the feeling of deepest passion or highest ecstasy.  No, love is more than these things, much more.  Love is making a decision to care for another even when it doesn’t seem logical.  Love is buying a card for everyone.  Love is God!  Happy Valentine’s Day!  You are loved!