No Valentine on Valentine’s Day?

I know I have mentioned on numerous occasions that Valentine’s Day is my second least favorite day of the year. (New Year’s Eve gets the number 1 spot.) Being alone on one of the “couples” holidays is just plain hard!

But… when I am hurting the most, I find someone else to love on. There is always someone hurting more than me. Always.

Are you aware of someone who needs to know that someone cares? Someone in pain, either physically or emotionally? Someone who lost someone they love? Someone who has just been diagnosed with a chronic or fatal illness? Someone who is about to lose their home because they have fallen behind on their mortgage payment? Someone who won’t have a hot meal on their table? Someone who’s a shut-in? Someone in a nursing home who rarely or never has any visitors? Someone with a sick child?

Find a way to love on someone who needs a valentine this year. It doesn’t have to be expensive or extravagant. You can leave a sweet note reminding them that God loves them and that He sees them… and you see them. You can put together a “Blessings Box” filled with God’s promises personalized just for them. (You can find instructions and a free template by clicking on the “resources” link in the navigation bar.) How about making a warm meal or heart-shaped treat for someone who is lonely or sick? Leave a platter filled with goodies to share on the desk of a co-worker that you know has few or no friends. (The goodies will draw others to them!)

Use your imagination and your gifts to love on someone this year. My gift is hospitality so my love typically comes in the form of food

For my favorite Valentine’s treat, pop over to RooMag where I share my dark chocolate mousse recipe with a special Valentine presentation!

To share God’s love with a child in need of clothing, basic healthcare, clean water, an education, and food, prayerfully consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International as your Valentine’s gift to God this year. For sweet faces waiting for a sponsor, click here.

And, for you my treasured friends… remember that you are never really alone. Rejoice in His love. Rejoice in The One who is Love.

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. ~ Zephaniah 3:17

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. ~ Psalm 86:15

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. ~ 1 John 4:7-8

For God so loved the world (that means YOU) that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ~ John 3:16

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ~ Romans 5:8

Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever. ~Psalm 136:26

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ~ John 15:9

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
~ Psalm 63:3

Sweetest Blessings,
LeAnn