Every Day Is an Opportunity to Share and Receive Love

This past week, we celebrated Valentine’s Day. Although much speculation surrounds the founder of this holiday, St. Valentine still has a place in the Catholic Church. Whether he was a priest, a healer, or an Italian bishop, his name has been honored since the 14^th century as someone known for loving acts, such as marrying couples to help men avoid war.[1] Regardless of the reasons, every day is the perfect time to remember to love and be loved.

I was thinking a lot about love all week. It’s a word that is used too often or too little. Some people say they love someone, but their actions say otherwise. I say love is an action word. A card can express love beautifully, but words are insufficient if someone doesn’t show those feelings through esteemable acts.

All week long, I heard and witnessed some beautiful stories of love in action. One woman brought flowers to her 92-year-old neighbor, whom she looks out for from time to time. Another woman recounted how she and her co-workers stepped up to manage the business after their boss was detained for an undetermined amount of time. At a fundraiser I attended, people reached deep into their pockets to support the agency’s efforts in serving the recovery community. Another attendee at this event, who lost a child to mental illness, has devoted her life to the mental health community. A gentleman seated next to me has dedicated his life to law enforcement, including educating the public about addiction and recovery issues. These are the angels that embody St. Valentine’s message.

My life is much simpler. Every Valentine’s Day, my husband makes time in his busy schedule to select two cards (one humorous and one serious) and then picks up flowers from the florist for me. I often gaze at those magnificent roses, lilies, and bluebells. They represent nature’s love for us and how it keeps giving despite some unloving ways the planet is treated. Yet, she keeps forgiving and giving back. No wonder she remains so beautiful.

My daughter just had her third baby, and she’s wonderful with all of them. It’s proof that there is no lack of love. Just like the father of six I met recently who said he would’ve had twelve if his wife had agreed. “It’s just another piece of chicken to add to the table,” he shared. When I witness such parental love, I can appreciate God’s love for his billions of children.

Then there was the woman standing outside the grocery store in the blazing sun, asking for donations for the blood bank, and the people who pause their activities to give blood. Or the person who learns that a friend needs financial assistance and willingly helps them without a second thought. There are volunteers who drop everything to rush to disaster sites and comfort those in crisis. And there are those who put themselves in danger to help free hostages.

Love surrounds us all the time. It is a fountain with an everlasting flow; we need only to let it in. But even that requires a little action: willingness.

We’re not expected to be like St. Valentine, but Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to remember the importance of love. The most important person you will ever love is yourself. By embodying the love we desire, we will receive it in return. If we could each be a little like St. Valentine, eventually, our world would overflow with so much love that its cup would “runneth” over.

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