What can you expect? Straight talk, laughable humor, real truth, simple living, and passionate yearning...
all regarding the God that still involves Himself in the details of the lives of His people
A calling to write what He leads, no matter how uncomfortable...
Because simple daily Christian living is never what we thought it would be
The Heart of Valentine's
So why not? And, why not everyone? And who cares what you say as long as you communicate the message that they are special. Get out the colored paper and the white lace. Ask the Lord who needs a Valentine and then make a list before you reconsider. Invite your kids and your grand kids or the neighbors down the block and cut… and color… and paste… until there is glitter everywhere. And then hand them out one by one with absolute intention on making each receiver feel loved and wanted and special.
The Heart of Valentine’s
White lace and red paper is at the top of my image list in February. How could this month be complete without paste and scissors and some form of ribbon or glitter? Both of school and at home, memories of happy, creative times flood back as we excitedly constructed tokens of our affection for each other.
Who? Whom shall I send a Valentine to? As a child I was certainly not sending any to those “stinky boys”, but I definitely would include my family, friends, my teachers, and even that old lady at church. Why her? I don’t know. She just looked like she would smile if I gave her a Valentine.
What? What can I say on my Valentine’s card without sounding weird? As a teen I certainly wanted to send some to those now “not so stinky boys”, but what would I write that wouldn’t give me away? What would sound cool and interesting and guarantee a second look? My mom always wants to hear the same thing, but what about the rest of my family? Can I make a card for my sisters that they will believe? Or, has there been so much griping between us this year that the words on my Valentine will seem empty? And, I am not writing anything too sweet on my card to that old lady. She always cries and makes a scene.
Why? Why do any of this anyway? As an adult…it is my sweetheart, my love, my husband that I am most excited to make a Valentine for. He prefers cakes or sweet pastries over red paper and glitter, but it is the message to him that matters of course. It is the time I took to make plans, and the efforts I used to make the plans a reality. It is not about money or even classic tradition. It is the heart of the Valentine that is important.
So why not? And, why not everyone? And who cares what you say as long as you communicate the message that they are special. Get out the colored paper and the white lace. Ask the Lord who needs a Valentine and then make a list before you reconsider. Invite your kids and your grand kids or the neighbors down the block and cut… and color… and paste… until there is glitter everywhere. And then hand them out one by one with absolute intention on making each receiver feel loved and wanted and special.
No matter what the holiday has come to represent, the heart of Valentine’s is love…of course. And, since real love comes from God, and the whole world is starving for it, wouldn’t this day be a great opportunity for all of us to not worry so much about the perfect Who’s, What’s, When’s, Where’s, and Why’s of Valentine gifts and just share some of God’s love to everyone we possibly can?
In obedience
Rhonda D Loucks