LOVE is a word with many definitions, an emotion with different expressions.
We love our parents, children, friends and relatives, yet on Valentine’s Day, a day dedicated to love, the focus is on romance. Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be for couples only because love isn’t for couples only!
Schooling in the US Valentine’s Day was a social event that caused much excitement amongst elementary children. At the end of January, we received a list of all the students in class. The next week was spent writing cards and filling small bags with lollies. Valentine’s Day homework was to think of one thing we liked about each classmate, then write it on a card for them. On the morning of February 14th we shared our ‘Valentines’ to the whole class, each student sharing with every other student ; a true gesture of ‘exchange’.
One year, a boy (who was embarrassed by the idea of writing Valentines) asked our teacher why we had this “stupid” tradition. She responded with a quote from Mother Teresa — “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” Conversely, the same would be true..’ If you love people, you have no time to judge them…”
She told us it was important to recognise the good qualities in everyone, even those whom we don’t naturally like. Adding that it is only when people forget how to love, that bad things like divorce, war, oppression, and genocide can often result. At the time, I was too young to understand what she was saying, but watching the news now, its not hard to see that the world could use a little loloma. In fact…a whole lot.
Think about all the people in your life that you love, now think about the last time you told them you loved them… Was it recently? I hope so. Whether it was or not, Valentine’s Day can be a good chance to say it again. After all, we can never hear the words, “I love you” too much.
This Valentine’s Day, spread some loloma.
“Love begins by taking care of the closest ones, the ones at home.” — Mother Teresa
