As I was sitting on my favourite bench under some trees in our garden this morning, writing a Valentine’s card for my love, Rohann, I began to reflect on Valentine’s days in my past and I thought to share something really special that I experienced every Valentine’s Day…
Growing up, I never really had a Valentine to look forward to every year. Yes, sure, in primary school, there were the red ribbons we could pin on our school dresses and my friends and I would make sure we all had some ribbons…and there was fun to be shared and it was great but we were young and didn’t really have a good idea of the value of being loved by someone else. We were still kids.
I am talking about when I got older and the value of receiving a gift from someone who might just care a bit more about me than what I thought, the years when receiving something made me feel important and loved ( I obviously now know that finding value in whether or not you receive a valentine is really not the gauge on which to measure your worth 😉)
During those years, high school into university, I didn’t have a Valentine’s, I didn’t even really have guy friends apart from my brothers and yet I always received a Valentine from someone. During the most important years, there was a person that always ensured I got something for Valentine’s. That person is my mom. My mom would always give me something….be it just a card, or a special chocolate or even a bunch of flowers. She would make sure I got something on that day to make me feel special. And this act of loving kindness to me made all the difference. I remember once walking into the reception area of Res at university and there was a beautiful bouquet of flowers there just for me. Immediately I thought, “oh wow, I have a secret admirer, how exciting!” And when I opened the card, a simple and beautiful note from my mom “Happy Valentine’s Day my girl! Love mom”. While I may have felt a little disappointed that it wasn’t from some mystery man, my heart felt so loved and secure to know that mom would always think of me and take the time to do something special for me. She made me feel important and valued.
My mom did something for me that I will do for my kids, to always let them know that they are thought of, loved and valued.
So, to my mom , thank you for always taking the time to think of me and love me. You showed me the love of Jesus, even if you didn’t know at the time. I love you!
To the moms out there who have wondered if they should do this…do it! It made a world of difference to me 🙂
And to my kids, I hope, that when you are adults, that you too would look back and your hearts would be filled with good memories of the love you have received from me.
1 John 4:19
We love because He first loved us.