Valentine’s Day… aww. I love love. Don’t you?
At least the thought of love makes my heart squishy and causes my pulse to thump. Not just romantic love, but friendship love, and grandchildren love. Ah, yes. And what about puppy love? I’m talkin’ real bouncy wet-nosed puppies and playful furry-ball kittens. Who can see new born animals and not ooh and ah with delight? And chuckle with pleasure.
There is the cutest video online these days of a man kneeling next to a box full of yapping puppies. He begins to softly sing and the puppies amazingly hush, curl up, stretch out, close their eyes, and fall fast asleep. Aww. So sweet.
Maybe you remember a lullaby that was sung to you or that you sang to a little one that hugs your heart when you hear it. Tenderness breeds love.
My dad use to sing “You Are My Sunshine” to me. To this day I celebrate that song. Mom sang as well, but what I remember most is her tender touch stroking my forehead and rubbing my hands.
Every Valentine’s Day I made my parents cards. One, that survived the years, has a side profile of my dad that I attempted and because dad was bald I drew sparkly light glowing from his dome. Oh dear, he must have appreciated that.
I received my first Valentine from my hubby Les when I was 15. I still have it. Am I mushy or what? It had a mail box stuffed with cards on the front, which was significant since we lived 600 miles apart and there was no such thing as texting or emails. And the only twittering was my heart when I would see Les’ handwriting on an envelope. Oh, heart be still.
But the love I’d like to focus on this February is self kindness. Taking care of you. I’d like to encourage you to put yourself on your Valentine List. To give is to receive, we know, but because God treasures us we must learn to love ourselves as well. Not indulge our weaknesses, (put that chocolate-covered cherry down, girl!) but to find a way to be kind to us. It could be a new book that you set aside an hour today to begin… one that will nurture your heart. Or a long distance call you take time for that reconnects you to someone you miss. Or maybe you could extend mercy to yourself for not doing everything right.
Be creative. Be loving. Be kind.
I love love.
And remember…we can love because He (Christ) first loved us.
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Comments
For those reading this..please pray for my love and husband, Pastor Jeff he is in the hospital with a brain bleed. Tina
Praying now Tina.
Thank You, Patsy for expressing so beautifully what I was thinking this A.M.! Joyfully, Betty Prestler
HAVE A BEAUTIFUL, LOVE-FILLED VALENTNE’S DAY!
I always enjoy reading anything from Patsy. And definitely enjoy seeing her in person. You are truly an inspiration, Patsy! I thank God for you.
Thank you, Patsy.
You gals are the best. Love Women of Faith.
Oh, yes because the Lord first loved us, we must remember how inportant to remember to love ourselves, even when we don’t feel we are worth it. I love my Hubby,children and grandchildren and great grandchildren but i do love myself. God Bless everyone.
Thanks for the beautiful words about love, Patsy! I saw you in Phoenix last September and was so blessed by you and all the Women of Faith! Thanks for allowing God to work so mightily through you!
Thank You for reminding me to take care of the giver (Mummy, Wife, Sister, Nurse etc. that goes with all the above). Most of the time I’m so busy giving I forget to receive time for me. You always inspire. You are a ray of SONSHINE.
Blessed Valentines Day.
PS Tina I’m praying for your husband Jeff. God Bless.
THANK YOU PATSY…I needed that! (and passed it along to all my women friends)
Thanks Patsy for the reminder. I thought it interesting that the verse you quoted is the very verse I’m using in writing my children’s curriculum this month. Maybe God is trying to tell me something!
PATSY YOU ARE LOVED! HOW PRECIOUS
WAS YOUR NOTE TO US TODAY!
I NEED TO BE REMINDED LOVE ME!MEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Thank You Patsy! I love reading these little pick me ups everyday!!!
Happy Valentine’s Day!!
Ahh, just what I needed to hear today! Thank you, Patsy, you bring joy to my heart!
I really love this post. I love hearing you speak. I usually do not get into the Valentines holiday because I feel its just for couples. Being that I am single its just another day but, I thank God for the ability to love and even to love myself. God bless you Pasty and thank you for this post!
What a wonderful idea. As women we are always too hard on ourselves. I am going to set aside a bit of time just for me the Valentines season.
Yes! Love is sweet, and as neccessary as breath. Here is my Valentine offering. rb.riddle-blog.blogspot.com
Patsy, you are so right. I would add the love I feel for my 19 year old kitty. She never got big and she loves to cuddle. She helps with empty-nesting. I know her time with me is limited, so I treasure it all the more. But then I wonder why I don’t see my family members that same way? They are all the more precious and none of us knows when our time here is up and we will be ushered into the presence of the Lord. I want to treasure my husband, my children and my grand children all the more! Love them and don’t stop, now matter how they respond.
Interestingly enough, that was the song my father used to sing to me every night. Still, to this day, when I hear it I automatically start to yawn. That relationship has been strained since then and this reminded me to love him again. I pray for my husband who has felt abandoned, and I pray for God to mold me out of myself. Thank you for this and God bless.
Thanks for that little reminder that I need to love myself too.I am learning that I need to look good even for my self.I have a friend who is Goading me on in that area.
Love you .Happy Valentines Day.
So very true…stop and take some time for you…love you Patsy and happy valentines…Thank you Jesus for loving me even though I don’t deserve your unconditional love.
Thanks for this!!!! What a great message for a mom of 3 yr old twin boys!! So many times we love everyone else and forget to be kind to ourselves!!!! The part about extending mercy to ourselves especially spoke to me.