Valentine's Day: an everyday lesson in appreciating others
A woman and a child buy some Valentine's Day balloons in Pakistan. Photo AFP, Asif Hassan
Christian Life
Valentine's Day is an excellent time to celebrate love in all its forms. Social media inspires customers to spend more on presents and cards. The special day can also teach kids to keep the focus on others.
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While many still consider it the day for couples in love, 14 February is often used as an opportunity to show love outside of romantic relationships.
There are various ways to celebrate Valentine's Day with children in schools. Kids often give out individual Valentine's cards. However, if somebody gets nothing, it might involve confusion, stress, and loneliness. Kids can also be cruel to each other if Valentine's cards are only a symbol of romantic love. However, the great thing about Valentine's Day is that we can talk about true love and care for each other in a much bigger context.
All kids want to feel like they belong. A physical card in their hands reminds them that they are loved, and not getting anything often brings distress and disappointment. At our Children's Club, we have decided to celebrate love in the context of friendships. Together with the kids, we work on creating handcrafted cards that children fill in with their messages.
Then kids put all the cards in a big box so all the cards could be delivered. No need to mention that our Club had already prepared cards for each kid. We wrote personalised messages, taking into account that kids often compare cards and the words on them. We wanted every kid to get several cards and feel loved.
Such a great holiday can be a pain if you focus only on yourself. When you expect to hear words of love and appreciation and get nothing, you are often left with self-pity. I hear about many adults who hate this day and boycott it because they don't like the feeling that nobody loves them.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to be loved and appreciated. However, there is a better way to show love to others. When I work with kids, I can already see them as young adults. I don't want them to become bitter when they grow up. Instead, I want them to have kind hearts by loving and caring for others.
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