We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first. 1 John 4:19 MSG
When I was in grade school, we all looked forward to February. Once we put a February date on our papers, we began planning our Valentine’s Day Boxes or Bags. Our art time was spent making heart creations for our parents and at home, we worked feverishly on the ornate boxes that would hold our precious valentine cards we’d give and then receive. Even the boys got into it. They may not have been as pretty as the girls, but they put some effort into it. We became very creative with paper doilies, red, pink and white construction paper and of course old valentines to cut up.
It was also a time to visit the store to pick out a box of cards. This was not easy, there were so many choices, general themes of the holiday, favorite Saturday morning cartoon characters or a Disney theme, etc. Now when you got home was when the work began. After opening the package, you separated the duplicates, then you decided which ones you would never send to a boy because, well that would just be yucky! And believe me the boys felt the same way. Even if you did have a crush on someone, you just picked on them instead. Last step, pick what card you wanted to send to each classmate. It helped if you put their names on the envelopes but didn’t seal them, just in case you changed your mind, you could switch cards.
My Mom let us go through this process, but she reminded us we had to give one to every classmate, just because we might not have liked them God loved them and we needed to let them know we thought of them. Of course there were always some extra cards that we signed Your Friend, because every class had at least one kid who wouldn’t get a card from everyone. So to help fill their box we were told to give them at least 2 of our extras.
Then the Valentine’s Day Party came, we proudly walked to school with our boxes filled with our cards to give. And we couldn’t wait to get our work done so we could have our afternoon party. I remember watching as some of my classmates slowly opened their boxes or bags waiting to be disappointed. But how smiles would come on their faces when they had more cards than they thought and especially those that not only said a name or your friend, but that said your friend ______. And then getting a thank you for being their friend. As a kid I didn’t think too much of what my Mom expected of us, because I truly believed everyone should get a card. I know how I felt when I didn’t get one from a classmate.
Times have changed and they don’t do things like that anymore in most schools. But it taught me a lesson, the way the world loves leaves some people out and feeling unloved. But true love, God’s love is all inclusive, He sent His Son to show His heart and make salvation available for everyone. Then He leaves the choice up to them if they’re going to receive the love He’s given them. But maybe they don’t know that because we haven’t shown them His unconditional love. Perhaps we should consider if we’re sending His Valentine’s message to everyone we meet.
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