Yesterday was the day of hearts and flowers, of chocolate and red balloons. It is the day that we celebrate love: romantic love, love of friends, love of others.

Not having a significant other on Valentine’s day makes it a little hard, but I want to share some thoughts about love and how we are to love.

No one wants to be left out. NO ONE. No one gets excited about a day when no one says “I love you.” It just doesn’t happen. There are so many ways to say it to everyone you meet. Every day.

1. “I notice your existence.” “I see you.” “I hear you.” All these words say I love you. When you greet someone, do they feel like you are glad to see them? When they talk, do they know you are truly listening. Linda Stone says that we live in a state of “continuous partial attention,” barely lifting our eyes from our devices to acknowledge the others in the room. Oh, how this diminishes the other person. How difficult it is to truly have a conversation. It hampers our ability to create relationship.
2. Check in on those who live alone. The widows and singles need to know someone is thinking of them. So make a phone call – yes, a real phone call – and talk for a few minutes, only to them. You have no idea how it brightens up someone’s day. Isolation can be depressing, and for the older singles, it is not good for them mentally. Let them know they are not forgotten.
3. Love on the kids you know. We’ve been told that they need 10 positive reinforcements a day. Be someone who gives that when you see them. Just tell them how happy you are that they are there (wherever that may be). Play with them – they absolutely love it if someone will take time to play a game or throw a ball. For older kids – take them out for a meal or ice cream – no one will refuse ice cream! Build memories with the neighborhood kids and their parents, too.

Finally, share the best love there is: the Love that came to us through Jesus Christ. When we love God and each other, our joy is complete and we share our joy with others. The world would be so much better if we just loved each other, deliberately and exuberantly.

Valentine’s Day may be over, but loving never is!