Thankful Thursdays

Valentine’s Day is tomorrow—how sweet. A day to celebrate love in all its forms, especially the kind that doesn’t rely on chocolates, flowers, or a fancy dinner. (Although, I wouldn’t mind those, especially the chocolate!) But shouldn’t that be every day?

It should. But okay, tomorrow’s all about the little things that make love truly meaningful—a kind word, a simple gesture, or simply spending quality time together. Because Valentine’s Day isn’t about grand displays, folks, it’s about letting the people in your life know that they’re loved and appreciated.

I’d like to share something from one of my favorite books, The Little Prince:

“I love you,” said the little prince.
“I love you too” — replied the rose.
“It’s not the same thing,” he recalled. “To love is to be sure that, whatever happens, you will be there, not by obligation, not by possession, but by choice, in silent company. Love is knowing that neither weather, nor storms, nor my winters can change that. When we give love, it doesn’t run out on the contrary, it grows.
“I understand now,” said the rose.
“Don’t just understand,” insisted the little prince. “Live it up. ” 
                                        -Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

The little prince reminds us that love is not a matter of possession, but of unconditional surrender. It’s a connection that goes beyond time and struggles, built on accepting each other and sticking together through it all. And that love is the strongest force in the world.

Happy Valentine’s Day, friends and family!  💖

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
-1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Tidbit:  St. Valentine was a priest during the reign of Emperor Claudius II in the 3rd century. Claudius had banned marriages for young men, believing that unmarried soldiers fought better than those with wives. Valentine, however, secretly performed marriages for Christian couples in love, defying the emperor. When he was discovered, he was arrested and eventually executed on February 14.