Well I Suppose.

I suppose that I will have to at least acknowledge that for loads of people this is a very special day. I know of at least one couple who have chosen this date to get married. At least as they grow older they will never forget their wedding anniversary. 

Am I sounding miserable and cynical? I suppose I am.

I really do not have fond memories of this day at all. As a schoolboy I do remember the hype about this day and all the things that happened. The furtive sharing of cards sneaked into school desks. 

Being the smallest and by my very nature and the difficulties I had with reading and such I hated this day with a vengeance. There never seemed to ever be a valentine for me. I suppose that said as much about me as it did others. But it was a day I dreaded.

Later when I became a teacher, and schools organised a kind of valentine mail service I always very secretly made sure that the students who I thought fell into the me category were not missed out.

I remember a tale about just this.

Little Chad was a shy, quiet young man. One day he came home and told his mother that he'd like to make a valentine for everyone in his class. 

Her heart sank. She thought, "I wish he wouldn't do that!" because she had watched the children when they walked home from school. Her Chad was always behind them. 

They laughed and hung on to each other and talked to each other. But Chad was never included. 

Nevertheless, she decided she would go along with her son. So she purchased the paper and glue and crayons. For three weeks, night after night, Chad painstakingly made 35 valentines.

Valentine's Day dawned, and Chad was beside himself with excitement. He carefully stacked them up, put them in a bag, and bolted out the door. 

His mother decided to bake him his favourite cakes and serve them nice and warm with a cool glass of his favourite lemonade when he came home from school. She just knew he would be disappointed and maybe that would ease the pain a little. 

It hurt her to think that he wouldn't get many valentines - maybe none at all.

That afternoon she had the cakes and lemonade on the table. When she heard the children outside, she looked out the window. Sure enough, there they came, laughing and having the best time. And, as always, there was Chad in the rear. He walked a little faster than usual. She fully expected him to burst into tears as soon as he got inside. His arms were empty, she noticed, and when the door opened she choked back the tears.

"I  have some cakes  and lemonade for you," she said.

But he hardly heard her words. He just marched right on by, his face aglow, and all he could say was,  "Not a one. Not a one." 

Her heart sank.

And then he added, "I didn't forget a one, not a single one!" 

It is the giving of love that matters not the receiving of it. Yes it is nice to know you are loved and cared for but the other 364 days are there to do that also. 

I hope today no matter where you are you feel loved and have a wonderful day.