February is a month I prefer to avoid and yet here we are again. This month contains the anniversary date of my husband’s death and many memories of that experience are top of my mind.

I asked a friend the other day about her and her spouse celebrating that day. They responded very casually that they don’t make a big deal out of it. The bible is a celebration of love over and over again. I then began inquiring at random and heard the greatest things, I thought I would share some of them with you.

One day a young couple, without extra funds, went to the store and then proceeded to the card section. Carefully they each read the cards and picked out the one they would give to their sweetheart. Then they handed that card to him/her and they read the message. They then carefully put it back in its assigned spot, held hands and walked away. Love was spoken in unspoken an unspoken way.

One woman, in a second marriage, and on a very tight budget that included child support was so creative. She set her supper table with a tablecloth, lit candles, used her Mother’s china and crystal and made paper hearts out of red paper. She said one year it was chilidogs for the meal but nobody noticed.

My husband, on our first anniversary, came home from his second job very late at night. He had a heath candy bar and a pepsi from the pop machine. I gave him a musketeer and a coke. No cards, no fanfare just lots of love and being thankful for one another.

Now fast forward 55 year. I was so thrilled at the sweet handmade cards from the kids at church on Sunday. Last year I started sending valentine cards to the widows and single women in our church. I enclosed a coupon for a dozen cookies with a list of 3 choices. It was a huge hit and I am doing it again this year. Years ago, I had a friend that was in an assisted living complex and I did it for the few ladies there. I included stationary and pens and chapstick and chocolate. OMG I cannot tell you how thankful they were.

My hubby, over the years, gave me flowers and dinners but my favorite was that first one when as exhausted as he was, remembered me on that day.

I am 4 years into this chapter of my life, love and marriage alone in the house. I am so grateful that I was blessed with a caring husband and a good marriage and remembering his affection carries me through….well, most of the time.

We love because he first loved us 1John 4:19

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life. John 3:16

God is love. Whoever lives in love, lives in God 1John 4:16

Love is used in the bible over 300 times so we will presume it is essential. So, on Valentines Day tell someone that you love them, then tell them about Jesus.