Valentine’s day is a little different here from how I remember it, back in my elementary school days. I remember going to the store with my mom, picking out my box of valentines (mom checking to make sure there would be enough to give one to every member of the class.) Disney princesses, Scooby doo, Winnie the Pooh, you choose the theme you want. Then emptying the box over the living room carpet, and carefully addressing a card to each of my classmates, and signing my name.
Here in Magyarmecske, we did things a little different on the 14th of February. Pink and red papers were still scattered across the classrooms, hearts, and puppies, and flowers, drawn to your heart’s content. But rather than blindly giving a cookie-cutter valentine to each and every one of your classmates (don’t want any kids feeling left out now), the kids were given time, and supplies to make their own valentine creations, and send them, or not send them, to whomever they wished, within the school. You may think this would set us up for an emotional disaster; little girls crying because their valentine box was empty, teenage boys taunting one another over who got the most cards; but amidst the scraps of red paper flying left and right, I saw something spectacular, as I was being pulled at, left and right to draw little puppies in love, and roses, and cupids, shooting their arrows, onto my fourth graders’ papers.
A boy in the class came up to me where I was sitting with another girl, helping her draw two puppies that looked as though they might be in love. He asked me if I would draw a rose for him on his valentine. I was very reluctant to draw it, knowing that he was just as capable as I, and thinking he was just trying to get out of doing the ‘work’. So, we made a compromise. I would draw a cupid on the valentine, if he would draw the flower and write his own message on it. He agreed, and handed me the piece of pink construction paper. I drew a cupid, shooting an arrow off the page, and handed the paper back to him carefully, partially expecting this young man, who can sometimes be a little less than respectful toward me, to take the paper and hand it right back to me, telling me to draw the flower too, then to write the message for him. But, to my surprise, he took the paper, drew a flower on it, and proceeded to write a message on it, to his older sister, a few grades above him.
I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t think I would have made, or given anything to my brother in fourth grade, unless maybe it was a mud pie, or something. This boy wasn’t required to send a valentine at all, let alone to his sister, yet he chose to do so, to tell her that he appreciates her and loves her. I think we can all learn a lesson from how these kids do Valentine’s Day. Yes it’s great to make everyone feel equally ‘loved’ on Valentine’s Day, by requiring kids in elementary school to give valentines to all their classmates, but wouldn’t it be even better if we shared “valentines” with those around us, just for the sake of letting them know we appreciate them, and love them. Not just because it’s Valentine’s day, or not just because it’s someone’s birthday. Not because we feel obligated to do so because of cultural norms, and Hallmark’s advertising, but because we are grateful for the blessings of love and joy that God has placed in our lives, through the presence of those around us. I know Valentine’s Day has passed, but why not send a “valentine” to someone in your life, as a way of thanking God for blessing you with their presence….any day…every day...it doesn’t matter that it’s not technically Valentine’s Day.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4: 7-11
Ps. You can read more from me, and other missionaries around the world, in my home church's "Mission Beyond Saint Matthew" newsletter, which can be found here: http://saintmatthew.org/DL/news/MBSMnewsletter.pdf
