Valentine's Day is almost upon us. Do you have special plans?
Are you fixing a wonderful meal for your spouse and family? Going out for a special dinner? Attending the Great Night of Methodist Singing, which is 6 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Mattie Kelley Arts Center?
While retailers promote Valentine's Day as a day for sweethearts; it is also a day to share love with one another. In the Bible, I John 4:18 states, "We love, because He first loved us."
When I was a child, my mother always made Valentine's Day special for the family; it was a day full of love and affection. Some years, that meant Mickey Mouse pancakes for dinner. Other times, she made Dad's favorite meal. She would make special cards for each of us along with small gifts. We might get a stuffed animal, a game, little puzzles or a book. One year, she made me a dress.
As adults, we may make gift baskets for each other with items from the dollar store, stickers, stationery and microfiber towels. The items don't need to be expensive; just pick things you know the other person will like and use. It's the thought that counts.
Last year, my brother, Robb, made Jim, my husband, and me some gift baskets with cute little animals, microfiber cloths for our glasses, stickers, and warm fuzzy socks.
Jim gets me a variety of things — Disney items, of course — and he inevitably gets Sudoku puzzle books.
Isn't it fun to give and receive something that shares love and shows another person you are thinking of them and care about their interests?
I challenge you to think of Valentine's Day as more than a romantic holiday.
Celebrate by sharing love with your family, friends and even strangers.
Say hello to someone you don't know; smile at them and be kind. Take a friend to lunch, spend time with a homebound person; send some loving cards.
Think of others with love in your heart.
Janice Lynn Crose, a retired accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CROSE: A Valentine's Day challenge