With Valentine’s Day this week, I have been thinking about
that special day and how to celebrate it.
I wasn’t sure how or when it started, but I remembered hearing something
about someone named Valentine. So, I did
what I like to do when I don’t know or remember something. I do a Google search. I found out a little bit about the origin of
Valentine’s Day.
In 270 A.D., the Roman emperor Claudius II didn’t want the
men to marry during the time of war, thinking that unmarried men would be
better warriors. Bishop Valentine went
against these orders and performed secret weddings. This went on until his execution on Feb. 14th. So, Valentine’s Day is really a celebration
of love and marriage.
I heard the other day that Valentine’s Day should be called
“Single Awareness Day,” since so many unmarried people struggle with a day that
celebrates the one thing that is elusive to them. I am sure that there are many people out
there who do not enjoy Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day is another day that is a
sad day for some, especially for those women who would like to be mothers but
have not had the opportunity.
To me, Valentine’s Day is a day to make heart sugar cookies,
decorate my home with lots of hearts, and eat chocolate. When my kids were little, I loved to do
special foods for holidays. Sometimes I would make pink biscuits or pancakes
for breakfast on Valentine’s Day. We often had red gelatin hearts for dinner,
red punch to drink, and heart shaped desserts.
I would try to remember to put a little something special in their
school lunches, such as a note or card to say “I love you”. I also remember making heart necklaces or
hair bows for the girls to wear on Valentine’s Day. I think that holidays are a great excuse to
do a few out of the ordinary things. I hope
that is something that my girls remember about their growing up years.
I can’t do much for those people out there who are lonely
and sad on Valentine’s Day, but I hope that maybe I can do a little something
for someone. A note of affection or
appreciation, a plate of cookies left at their door, a quick text or email to a
friend, etc. Maybe I can help someone
feel remembered and loved on the day that we celebrate love. We all want to feel loved, even if we don’t
have much romance in our lives. I hope
you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day, that you feel loved, and that you can
help someone else feel loved. XOXO
~Gayle
