Valentines Day
That's today. Not that any of you are unaware, though. I know this because many of you have griped about how much today sucks. It's filled my facebook news feed all day.
I like Valentines Day, and I'm so tired of hearing nothing but negative about this day from so many people.
And don't think I just like Valentines Day because I am married (although it is nice). I liked it before then, too! In college I had two outstanding V-Days that I remember quite clearly. One involved getting together with a few of my single girlfriends and eating pizza before watching the Phantom of the Opera and singing along loudly to every single song. And of course, consuming unhealthy amounts of Ben and Jerry's. The other was during my senior methods semester when I had all my classes with the exact same people. I took them Pirates of the Caribbean Valentines and homemade strawberry cake batter cookies with milk chocolate chips. It was a total hit.
When I was younger I didn't like Valentines Day as much. I was the awkward chubby girl with glasses and a gap-toothed smile that the other kids only gave Valentines to because they had to. I always came away with less than most of the other kids in my class. And in high school...well, I was just confused and stupid, and we'll leave it at that.
But I've grown up since then. I'm not claiming I have everything figured out or that I am perfectly poised, but I think Valentines Day is a great idea. Not so much the commercial side of it, but the thought behind it - letting the ones in your life know that they are valued and loved. That doesn't have to be a significant other. It can be family members or friends. Everyone needs to know they are loved.
Unfortunately though, it seems to me as though Valentines Day has become a day of selfishness and wallowing in self pity. People focus on what they think they don't have (love, usually in the form of that special someone) and choose to take for granted the many people in their life who do love them. And even more so, people don't even think about the greatest love of all (John 15:13) that Christ continually pours out on them (whether they choose to believe and/or accept it or not). And I will be the first one to admit that before college, I was that person every single year. I was that person on more days than just the one in the middle of February!
Don't get me wrong, though. I know there are plenty of folks who have good reason to dread this holiday. Perhaps people who have gone through a horrible breakup recently or someone who has lost a loved one. That's totally different; a horse of a different color. For those of you who have gone through one form of loss or another and the wounds are more raw today, I am truly and deeply sorry.
I also know that not every single person hates V-Day. And I know that feelings of loneliness and the desire to share life with someone are completely valid. We are relational beings. That's how we were created. We were meant to love and to be loved. But I think it becomes a problem when we get so focused on it and become bitter and pessimistic. I just wish we could embrace a holiday about loving others instead of asking why more people don't love us.
So, on that note, I hope you did have a good day either because of or despite the fact that it is Valentines Day. And no matter who you are, remember that you are deeply loved, even if you can't always feel it.
I like Valentines Day, and I'm so tired of hearing nothing but negative about this day from so many people.
And don't think I just like Valentines Day because I am married (although it is nice). I liked it before then, too! In college I had two outstanding V-Days that I remember quite clearly. One involved getting together with a few of my single girlfriends and eating pizza before watching the Phantom of the Opera and singing along loudly to every single song. And of course, consuming unhealthy amounts of Ben and Jerry's. The other was during my senior methods semester when I had all my classes with the exact same people. I took them Pirates of the Caribbean Valentines and homemade strawberry cake batter cookies with milk chocolate chips. It was a total hit.
When I was younger I didn't like Valentines Day as much. I was the awkward chubby girl with glasses and a gap-toothed smile that the other kids only gave Valentines to because they had to. I always came away with less than most of the other kids in my class. And in high school...well, I was just confused and stupid, and we'll leave it at that.
But I've grown up since then. I'm not claiming I have everything figured out or that I am perfectly poised, but I think Valentines Day is a great idea. Not so much the commercial side of it, but the thought behind it - letting the ones in your life know that they are valued and loved. That doesn't have to be a significant other. It can be family members or friends. Everyone needs to know they are loved.
Unfortunately though, it seems to me as though Valentines Day has become a day of selfishness and wallowing in self pity. People focus on what they think they don't have (love, usually in the form of that special someone) and choose to take for granted the many people in their life who do love them. And even more so, people don't even think about the greatest love of all (John 15:13) that Christ continually pours out on them (whether they choose to believe and/or accept it or not). And I will be the first one to admit that before college, I was that person every single year. I was that person on more days than just the one in the middle of February!
Don't get me wrong, though. I know there are plenty of folks who have good reason to dread this holiday. Perhaps people who have gone through a horrible breakup recently or someone who has lost a loved one. That's totally different; a horse of a different color. For those of you who have gone through one form of loss or another and the wounds are more raw today, I am truly and deeply sorry.
I also know that not every single person hates V-Day. And I know that feelings of loneliness and the desire to share life with someone are completely valid. We are relational beings. That's how we were created. We were meant to love and to be loved. But I think it becomes a problem when we get so focused on it and become bitter and pessimistic. I just wish we could embrace a holiday about loving others instead of asking why more people don't love us.
So, on that note, I hope you did have a good day either because of or despite the fact that it is Valentines Day. And no matter who you are, remember that you are deeply loved, even if you can't always feel it.
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