Love and Romance

Happy Valentine's Day!  I am aware that there are some single people who find this a difficult holiday to deal with.  Here's my theory on that - they associate today with romance, and feel sad because they don't have any romance in their life.

I do not associate today with romance.  This could be because I've never had a boyfriend on Valentine's Day, or it could just be because I'm weird.   But I think the real reason is because I associate today not with an expression of emotion, but with an actual emotion - love - that I give and receive regardless of whether I'm in a romantic relationship.

When I was growing up, my mom would always make cookies for Valentine's Day.  And not just any cookies, we're talking plate-sized heart shaped sugar cookies complete with pink icing and usually our names written on them.  I like to think our names were on them because we are each special, but it may also have had a practical purpose in keeping us kids from eating each other's cookies.  Anyway, my memories of Valentine's Day are associated with cookies, and knowing that my mom loved me enough to make me my own special cookie.

All the kids have moved out, so my mom doesn't make the heart cookies anymore.  I have taken up the tradition for myself (although I admit, mine are much smaller and not personalized).  I have no kids, but there are plenty of people I love, and making special cookies for them is one way to show it.  Interestingly enough, when I came home tonight from delivering my little gifts of love, I found that someone had left me my own gift of love.  Yes, there was a plate of heart shaped cookies complete with pink icing left on my doorstep.  But even without the cookies, I know that I am loved, not only by my parents, my family and friends, but by my Saviour, who makes all things bearable, and through whom all things are possible.