Spending Love All Year Long — MANN

I heard someone once say that love was not meant to be said, but lived. That sounds like a poet’s voice, yet in the aftermath of Valentine’s Day, I see it as an opportunity to explore ways for love to live on beyond the day. According to a recent survey conducted by BIGreseach, the most popular Valentine’s gifts are flowers, followed by cards, candy, an evening out, and jewelry. Although men are the big spenders, this survey states ‘they plan to fork over $156.22, which nearly doubles the $85.08 that the average female plans to spend' (2007). That one day can revenue more than 16 billion dollars.

Claiming that ‘love is the greatest gift’ and remembering that it is meant to be lived out, I ask what happens the next day and the next week after Valentine’s Day? And how is this generosity spread evenly over the year among the under-privileged as well as the privileged?

As a child, Valentine’s Day in my one-room school house was a very different day. We exchanged hand-made cards and home-made cookies. One of my teachers always asked each student to say something nice about the person sitting behind them. Those of you, who remember the desks in the one-room school house, will also remember the ink well. I always found it difficult to say something nice with black tipped, blonde pig-tails. However, Mrs. Shafer wouldn’t take no for an answer, “Surely Donna, you can find something nice to say.” Even in the sweet and sour so evident in some experiences, it’s good to reflect and see the humour now that was difficult to see then. And Mrs. Shafer, always asked the entire class to think kind thoughts about other students . . . all year long

Our farm house always had a little flare of colour on Valentine’s Day. Perhaps it was a nice break in the middle of winter. My mother used to make little red candy squares with an icing center, and she always had a red table cloth. But, then, she was the kind of mom who loved to prepare and present something special . . . all year long.

When animated email greeting cards became popular, it was so nice when people remembered my birthday or anniversary with a card. I always enjoyed them. Then five years ago, I began to send friends cards on unexpected days with a caption such as Thinking of You. I continue it . . . all year long.

Now, with the explosion of multi-media opportunities to relate to people and encourage them, one can have a choice of whether to use email, texting, Facebook, Tweeter and of course the telephone. Keep it going, not just on a designated day, but . . . all year long. Some people frown on all the available formats to connect, saying it’s takes away opportunity to converse face-to-face. But, when we accept that it’s here to stay, then we can also agree that at least people are talking to one another . . . all year long.

Donna Mann

WinteGrief. Essence Publishing
Aggie's Storms. The Brucedale Press
Sequel coming soon
NEW: MeadowLane Audio Children's Books/Stories
http://stores.livingwordsmann.com