My 3 yr old daughter took this pic of me

Thursday, February 14, 2013

A Different Approach to Valentine's Day

Love is in the air today and my Facebook feed is full of posts about Valentine's Day. The stores are crammed with men picking up last minute gifts for their significant other and women picking out a special something for themselves or their special guy. Chocolates, wine, flowers, jewellry, lingerie, among other things. 
A lot Most of us women expect a gift on Valentine's Day from our man and if we don't get one, we are disappointed and even angry or hurt. If we are single ladies, we feel bad that we don't have a special someone in our lives and so we treat ourselves instead. 

18 billion dollars will be spent for Valentine's Day. 

Another commercially run "holiday". It's not about love, it's about money. 

This post was on Dani Johnson's wall (she's a self made millionaire):

Can you believe what the marketers have turned Valentines Day into?? BUYING!! 18 Billion will be spent for Valentines day. What happened to LOVING? A study showed that 53% of women say if they dont receive a gift from their significant other than they will END their relationship....15% of women buy themselves a gift for Valentines Day. REALLY!!! Let's feed an orphan for Valentines instead of feeding selfish desires. Let's LOVE others with LOVING words of encouragement & service instead of making demands.

I want to challenge you to do something different this year. Instead of focusing on ourselves, lets reach out and spread love to everyone and anyone we can. Look for small opportunities to do big things. Try to bless everyone who comes across your path today. Offer a helping hand, a kind word, a hug, a special gesture - especially where it's unexpected. 


Matthew 22:39

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Take this a step further. Who needs our money, our gifts, our time? 

You could choose a single mom who is struggling, 

sponser a child,

help stop child sex trafficking - check out this site (they have a different cause every week),

Support women in Nepal who are trying to build a new life after being saved from human trafficking by buying their jewellry,  or you can visit their main site here and help in other ways, 

choose an orphanage to support financially (whether a one time donation or an ongoing financial commitment), 

gather supplies and deliver them to a women's shelter, 

visit the elderly, 

visit someone in the hospital, 

shovel someone's driveway (someone who really needs it, then ring the bell and run away! So.fun.). 

It doesn't matter if it's big or small, every act of kindness blesses the giver and receiver. And as far as doing something special on Valentine's day with that special someone or by yourself, go ahead! You don't need to blow a bunch of money to have a wonderful time. Spend time with each other and plan a date that is free! (or next to free). For some great and inexpensive date ideas, check out my friend Sharla's blog - she even has a printable full of ideas! And here's another great site with tons of ideas. 

Remember what love really is. It's not that gushy feeling and all the fluff that comes with it. 

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends. 
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 



HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, Y'ALL!
<3 <3 <3

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