I wonder if you’re like me and have a high-low relationship with Valentine’s Day. Some years I see it coming a month ahead of time and happily plan out notes and gifts. Some years it sneaks up on me like that car on the entrance ramp and I’m hitting the gas to get ahead. The life of a mom is always planning what’s coming next, and for today, that means Valentine’s Day!
The beauty of this February holiday is that it’s something we should already be doing year-round. Love is the very fabric of our families as inspired by the love of Jesus Christ. His life teaches us what being fully loved should look like. If we live that way each day, then Valentine’s Day is like the cherry on top of an ice cream sundae. It signals us to look below the surface because the good stuff runs all the way to the bottom. I want my life and love for my family to be more than just a day on the calendar, but a daily expression of what’s true.
How do we create that spark of love in our daily lives? Here are a few action steps.
*See below for easy ways to show love with your family*
- Ask God to help you love each other! 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.” Do you know where love comes from? Not from the Target Dollar Spot with those heart shaped cards. Not from grocery stores filled with delicious chocolate candies. Not even from Hobby Lobby with aisles and aisles of farmhouse scripture signs and heart shaped plates. Love comes from God! God created love and gave us the ability to express our love to him and others. When we don’t feel like loving each other, we should ask God to help us.
- Consider what would make someone else feel loved. Philippians 2:4 says, “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” Love means learning about other people. What do they enjoy doing? When is the best time to give them a hug? Do they appreciate gifts or a card with encouraging words? Before Valentine’s Day sneaks up on you, ask your family what would make them feel most loved on that day. Put love into action by taking advice from the very person you want to show love to!
- Love someone even if they don’t deserve it. Romans 5:8 says, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Jesus loves us even in our worst moments. Sometimes we wake up in a bad mood or have a hard day. Our tendency is to treat others like we feel: angry, sad or frustrated. The Bible tells us that we can choose to loves others even if they haven’t earned it. Since my love comes from God, I can act loving even if the other person doesn’t respond the same way. This is quite literally an opportunity to love just like Jesus did.
I feel loved when you…
You can do this family activity on Valentine’s to learn how each family member receives love.
Kate did this in her home and each of the kids cried sweet tears when they read what they were doing to make other people in the family feel loved. The girls still have this paper hanging up in their room.
It’s also a great jumping off point to learn each other’s love languages.
TEXT WHY YOU LOVE THEM…
A printed valentine card is SWEET but so is a thoughtful text. Save this image on your phone and fill in the blanks with five reasons you love someone and send it on.
We so often over complicate telling people how we love them but it doesn’t have to be complicated!
