Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! Heart Shaped boxes of chocolate, pretty balloons, cute stuffed animals, lovely roses- These are just a few of the items you might see when you walk into the store today. Let me start by asking you about what you think Valentine’s day is really about? When I was little I used to think about it as a day where we splurge on sugar, get toys, and not do any classwork. Sounds nice right! When I got a little older I thought of Valentine’s as a day to give gifts to our closest friends. However recently, (and when I say recently, I mean this week) I thought if Valentine's Day as a day that is supposed to be about those we love and those who love us. So if that’s what it’s about, then why do we sometimes leave our family members out? Think about it, for most of us our family loves us more than anyone else, except for God of course. Sometimes it even feels hard for some of us to say “I love you” on any regular day. I’m not saying that this is the only way that you can say “I love you” but we all love to hear the words rather than having it implied. I challenge you this Valentine’s to say that. Another way that you can show your love to both friends and family is to give them a small gift. It does not have to be something expensive. In fact some of the best gifts can be homemade with things that you have sitting around in your house. Another great thing that you can do this Valentine’s Day is do something for someone that you normally don’t hang around with or someone who is in need. Another thing you can do is tell someone who has made an impact in your life that you love and appreciate them. Below are some ideas that you can do to show the special people in your life how thankful you are for them and how much you love them! You don’t have to do everything but these are just a few ideas. ; )
Family
Mom/ dad- Make a card (Pinterest, YouTube, and the internet have some pretty cute ideas for inspiration).Do your chores without being asked.Tell them that you love them (not hint it). But most importantly spend time with them. We often get busy, but take some time to be with your family, or you could even let your mom and dad have a nice Valentine’s Day dinner. Make them dinner, do the chores, put a good movie on, and then do something fun with your siblings. Your parents will enjoy the time they have together without any distractions and you get the chance to bond with your siblings. It’s a win win for everyone! Maybe the next day you can do something that the entire family will enjoy!
Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles, etc.- Visit a family member that you often don’t get to see much. If that person lives far away or you can’t visit them for whatever reason give them a phone call. Please call them. Calling is better because they can actually hear your voice. That’s something a text message can’t do. However writing a letter is nice too though because they can keep that as a keepsake. Plus people don’t get friendly letters that often anymore.
Siblings, nieces, nephews, etc.- I don’t have siblings, but from what I hear they can be a handful sometimes. Maybe you should spend some time with them today. Play a game with them or allow them to choose their favorite movie. Let them choose the game, movie and snack. You can also get them a little treat that day too. Maybe you could take them out for ice cream or get them something simple but sweet like a box of chocolate or a mini stuffed animal. You can do this for other family members like nieces and nephews too. Whatever you choose to do make sure they know that you love them.
Friends
Friends- Friends are an important part of our lives. We all want to feel loved and a good friend makes us feel that way. One way that you can tell your friend that you are thankful for them is by giving them a small gift. Invite your friend to do something fun together. This can give you time to catch up with your friend if it's been a long time, or just use that time as a time to bond and get closer to your friend. I know this can be a little awkward, but tell them how much you are thankful for them and how you love them.
Acquaintances- There are many people in our lives who are not exactly close friends but you know and trust each other. Just because you aren’t the closest does not mean that they do not play a part in shaping you. Acquaintances can be just as important as friends. These can often be classmates, or if you work, fellow coworkers. Do something simple to tell these people how much they matter to you. One thing that you could do is buy them cookies,doughnuts or maybe even a gift basket that they can all share. After all, almost everyone likes something sweet to eat and some coffee!
Others
God- Pray. Spend a little extra time talking to God. This might sound cheesy, but he really is your best friend and in order to have a friendship you have to spend time together. Tell him everything you need to tell him. Thank him for the special people (and pets) in your life. Pray for those who need prayer or unspoken intentions. Trust him to do what he sees best. Then sit and listen. It helps if you go to a place where you won’t get distracted or accidentally fall asleep, but somewhere where you feel peaceful. Christian music or soft music can be good too. Just don’t let it distract you from praying.
Teachers- These people deserve so much more credit than they often get. Consider getting your teacher(s) something small. Tell them how thankful you are for the knowledge, caring, and understanding they have given you. Teachers love to hear that you care about them and what they are teaching.
People in need- Don’t forget to give to others. Luke 12:48 says, “To whom much is given, much will be required.” God has given us so many blessings. Now we need to bless the world with our talents and love. Consider going to a nursing home and delivering Valentines. My class actually did that today. It was nice. We delivered valentine cards to them to cheer them up. It was nice too because we were surprised that they made Valentine’s day cards for us too. Take some time to talk to the people you will be helping if you can. Let them know that you want to hear their story and what they say. You might also be surprised at how much you get out of it too.
Pets- So I know that pets are definitely not humans, but they can teach us a lot about love too. I have a dog named Bill. Bill is very rambunctious but also very loving. However, he often has to be kept in a cage or a room when we aren’t able to watch him. I also have two cats and a fish. This Valentine’s Day I want to spend some time with my pets, especially Bill. My goal this Valentine’s Day is to make time to play and cuddle up with them. Another way that you can help an animal in need is by adopting a pet, but since I know adopting a pet is a big commitment you could volunteer at an animal shelter or foster a pet. There are many pets that need love and care until they can find a forever home, and shelters often don’t have the time to make sure each animal has had some much needed play time and love. You could also start a dog food drive. There are so many opportunities that encourage you to try. You will make a difference no matter what approach you choose.
Many of these ideas can and should be done everyday, but I know life gets busy and sometimes it's hard to do them. However, I think we should try to do these activities as often as we can. So this Valentine’s Day let’s make a conscious effort to show our family and friends just how much we love them!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Love,
Anjalee
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