Valentine's Day

When I was a kid I loved Valentine’s Day. I remember my dad always buying my mom a Valentine Card (a really nice one from Hallmark) and a big heart-shaped box of chocolates. I never doubted that my dad loved my mom whole-heartedly and completely, just as she loved him. They had been friends since they were little – going through elementary school together, skipping 7^th grade together, and getting married at only 19. They had been married 63 years when she passed away – and he missed her EVERY SINGLE DAY for the next 5 years until he joined her. They literally spent their whole lives together – and especially on Valentine’s Day, they did a great job showing their love to each other.

And it wasn’t just my mom that got special treatment on Valentine’s, because Dad always bought me a cute card and my own little heart-shaped box of chocolates too.  It was the kid-version, but since I was a kid, it was PERFECT. Not only did I know that my parents loved each other completely, but I never once doubted my father’s love for me too.

Even though I may not have a “Special Someone” in my life this year, as I see all those heart-shaped boxes of chocolate lining the store shelves – I smile. I smile because I have been blessed with great love in my life. I smile because of the great memories those boxes conjure up. I smile because I know that love is much more than just a romantic notion but something that touches and enlarges your heart. I smile because I still believe that I can have a love like that my parents shared.

Some people don’t appreciate Valentine’s Day, but even single, I still do. And one day I’m hoping that I’ll again have a wonderful, loving man in my life that will buy me my very own heart-shaped box of chocolates.