Out of The Box Valentine's Day Challenge

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching.  What a wonderful day to celebrate those we love.  For the significant person in our lives there may be  a heartfelt card, a romantic dinner date, flowers and maybe even a beautiful gift basket full of things to pamper ourselves. This might also be the night where the evening ends with a marriage proposal.

School children will have their Valentine parties where they will exchange their cute Valentine cards.  Heart shaped cards will be cut out , glue and glitter carefully placed, along with a special message written and proudly presented to their parents as they get home from school.  What a special day!

It is easy to share our love with those closest to us.  This Valentine’s Day I would like to challenge us to think a little outside the box.  Not everyone feels all warm and fuzzy on this day.  In fact,  there are many people who find themselves feeling very isolated and lonely.  If we take time to look for these people we will find them in all walks of life.  You may find them sitting in a nursing home thinking about the loss of their loved one.  It may be a spouse who has recently gone through a painful divorce .  It may be that single person you know at church who has never found their life partner.  It may be that child in your child’s school that  just doesn’t quite fit in with the other kids.  It may be the family in the house down the street who live in difficult circumstances. 

So, my challenge this Valentine’s Day is to find one person who needs to know that someone notices them and thinks they are special.  We can find creative ways to show them that we do think they are special.  We could go to that nursing home and visit, helping someone to reminisce about their loved one who has passed.  We could send a creative gift basket to the person we know will be home alone  on Valentine’s Day.  It may just be a special card that will make the person or child feel as though they have worth to someone.  Maybe the family down the street could use a bag of groceries that has the makings of a special dinner.

Valentine’s Day is all about love.  As we share our love with our families, this year let us share our love to just one more person.  It  may affect someone in ways we will never know.