Ways to Spread Encouragement on Valentine’s Day

Yesterday I met with my Mom N Me group. This year we have several speakers talking about encouragement. We also did a Valentine’s Day craft and shared homemade snacks and cheesy valentines. 

I love Valentine’s Day. In fact, it might be my favorite of all the commercialized Christian holidays because it is an entire day dedicated to celebrating love and it has extended to people of all faiths. I know some people don’t like the commercialization, but I don’t see anything bad about celebrating love. 

However, this year I have had several friends and family members experience great loss and I know that this week will probably be difficult for them, which got me thinking that there are probable a lot of people who might struggle with feeling sadness, grief, or loss on this holiday instead of love.

So, I’ve put together a list of easy ways to spread encouragement on Valentine’s Day.

• You know the cheap character valentines that you send to school for kids to pass out to their friends? Why not take a few to a local nursing home? Maybe include a bag of hard candy.
• Send flowers or candy. Okay, so this is an obvious one, but it would probably mean a lot to a widow or divorcee or someone who is grieving the loss of a parent.
• Call or send a card. Just knowing someone is thinking of you can be very comforting.
• Simple, inexpensive gifts. Flowers can be expensive, but how about a pack of seeds? My aunt sends my kids seed packets in the mail for us to plant in the spring. What about a framed photo or even a pair of silly Valentine’s day socks? Anything to let them know you are thinking of them.
• I have a friend who was widowed about a year ago. She shared on Facebook that a friend sent her a card this week with some spending money or gift cards for a movie night, which was such an encouragement to her and her boys.
• For the past several years, we have always lived in neighborhoods with predominately older residents, many of whom are widows or widowers. Sometimes if I make a big meal, like a roasted chicken or a big pot of soup, we will pack up a portion and deliver a hot meal to an elderly neighbor.
• Alternatively, you could invite someone to your home for dinner on Valentine’s Day so they don’t have to sped the evening alone. 
• At Christmas time we made heart-shaped applesauce ornaments and stuck them in a few mailboxes. This could be a cute Valentine’s day tradition as well.    
• Give an encouraging or funny book with a personalized note written inside the cover. Have you checked out my books yet?

The truth is, it really doesn’t matter what you do, but this Valentine’s Day I want to encourage you to spread the love just a little bit further.

Please leave other ideas in the comments, I’d love to hear them!