I'm can imagine that a number of us got mesmerised by our loved ones on that special day dedicated to love and lovers. I know this piece isn't on Valentine's day but hey, it's not too late to share our experiences. Let me share mine with you...
I had imagined the day being so romantic with prospects of a dinner with my husband and exchange of gifts. Although these somewhat happened, they did not go the way I expected at all. I just relocated to another country and my husband would rather I don't go out on my own considering the fact that I'm not yet mobile. So first of all, squeezing out time to get his gift was a challenge. Eventually, I had a window on Val's day and so when he came home for lunch break, I gave him the gift. He really appreciated it and said mine was on the way. Yay!!!
Later, I realised that the hope for a nice romantic dinner had been dashed by an official meeting fixed for Valentine's day evening! Who does that? :( It was only when he got back in the evening that I got to know the meeting was cancelled at the last minute (but was too late for us to go for the dinner) and that HE DIDN'T HAVE MY GIFT! Earlier in the day, we got to know that a mutual friend of ours took ill and was in the hospital for a medical operation! And guess what? My husband kept my gift at this friend's place so I don't find it in the house! So that was it! Neither dinner nor gift for me. I got a card though. How unexciting for our first Valentine's day as a married couple.
Later in the evening, I encouraged my partner that we go and check on the guy at the hospital. Coupled with the fact that we didn't know the way to the hospital, we didn't know which ward he was in. So we went about perambulating like 'aimless' people. The big size of the hospital didn't help matters. Eventually, we located our friend and was told the operation went well, thank God. We spent a considerable amount of time with him, chatting and making him smile. So as God would have it, on Valentine's day, we ended up showing love to a man who had neither family nor close friends in a strange land. It wasn't what you would call an ideal Valentine's day but it was so fulfilling. I personally had a realisation.
Actually, what is an ideal Val's day? Is it one in which we are carried away in our own little world of loving and giving to those that than can give us back or one in which we extend a loving hand to those that are less-privileged? This is a clarion call to everyone out there to look beyond your little circle to a wider one in which you can be a blessing to others and make them feel loved. Such people could range from motherless babies to those in prisons to that guy you pass by on the street every morning. Let's go back and think...Jesus said in Luke 14:12-14 paraphrasing ...when you have a banquet or dinner, don't just invite your friends and family and rich neighbours, people that can return the favour but invite people who never get invited to such things - the misfits from the wrong side of tracks. Then you'll be-and experience-a blessing. They can't repay you but God will at the resurrection of the righteous.
So good people, let's go around and show some love and not just on Valentine's day! By the way, at the end of the day, we had access to our friend's flat and was able to get my gift :) I gave then I received! And errrm...our dinner happened later in the week :)
