There are always a lot of traditions attached to a holiday; whole strings of special food, special events, special gatherings and special people are remembered as the appointed day unfolds. For Christmas it's turkey and pine trees and fuzzy socks, on New Year's Eve there is a midnight sip of sparkling cider. The dawn of Easter smells like cinnamon bread, new spring dresses and curled hair, and the Fourth of July is a day for parades and and watermelon and hot sun and the U.S. And then, in the middle of a cold, rainy winter, is today: a time for warm hearts, red tissue paper and gifts of flowers. Usually we celebrate in the morning with Valentine cards, and in the evening with chocolate milkshakes and hamburgers around the table. This year is different. Not everyone is here today, and so we will save our Valentine dinner for the weekend, though we still passed around cards this morning. It is a little sad to postpone it, but there is that deeper meaning for a holiday (and every day) that miles can't ruin. The essence of Valentine's Day is love, and in our family there is love and celebration between us even when we're not within sight of one another. There are little notes and red paper hearts travelling from post office to post office as they find their way to brighten the day of a beloved friend or relative, there are Emails and messages of "Happy Valentine's Day, I love you!" all over the place, and occasionally five bouquets of beautiful flowers show up at the doorstep from the best Daddy in the world (that was my very first bouquet, by the way)!
And with all the flurry, there is still a bit of time to think, and to ponder the meaning of love. Because love is from God and he wants us to enjoy all of the lovely things in this world that he made, and he wants us to love the salvation he gave, because he loved us. It's a ring of love, and today is the day to celebrate that. Happy Valentine's Day!
P.S. Yes, there is chocolate in that bag sitting on the counter!
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