Tuesday was Valentine's Day, and I am sure each and every one of you acknowledged it in some form or fashion. I love Valentine's Day, but I don't know why. I guess because it is a day where we can profess our love to the special people in our lives. This year I have changed my mind about Valentine's Day.
Let me explain.
We attended a funeral on Tuesday. Yep, a funeral on Valentine's Day. As I stood there listening to the scripture reading, I watched the deceased's nephew tell us how he knew his uncle is now in Heaven. It was the best scripture reading I think I've ever heard at a funeral. Next came the eulogy, and it was the longest eulogy in the history of eulogys. Don't get me wrong it was a great eulogy, but I was standing. Standing in heels, mind you. It was nice to hear things about our friend that we never knew. Funny stories, accomplishments, and orneryness. I think everyone learned something new about him the day he was laid to rest.
During the scripture reading, I remembered the videos that my sister sent McD and I that morning. The videos were of our nephews wishing us a Happy Valentine's Day. As I watched this grown man's bottom lip start to quiver just the slightest bit, something hit me. At one time, his uncle was probably one of his Valentines. When we were kids everyone was our Valentine. We didn't just give one Valentine, we bought packages of 20 or 40. We gave them to our aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.
Let me tell you, it is hard to watch someone you care about stand in front of a congregation reading scripture and talking about his uncle. It is really hard to watch as his lip quivers. Thank goodness my feet were hurting. I would have lost it right then and there if I didn't have something else to focus on, because all of these thoughts swirling around in my head were not helping.
I watched the children, step-children, grand-children, nieces, nephews, brother, and wife sit there and mourn the loss of their Valentine.
Funerals always seem to make me want to hold my loved ones closer, see them more often, and let them know that I love them, and this funeral was no different. The fact that it was on Valentine's Day did change the way I will look at that particular day.
I will continue to send Valentine's to the kids, don't get me wrong, that part won't change.
I'm getting ready to call McD out here, sorry McD.
This V-Day McD forgot all about it. Romantic, huh? At first I was a little upset. I mean, a couple of days before V-Day he was telling me about what the guys at the office were doing for their wives and kids. I just assumed (yes, I know I know) that he was planning something too. Nope, he forgot. That's okay, really. I was disappointed at first, I won't lie. But after thinking about it I decided that we don't need no stinkin' Valentine's Day! We celebrate our love every day. I don't need to get a Hallmark card from him to know that I love him. He may not be the most romantic guy I know, but sometimes he does things that are kind of romantic in his own way.
Just the other day it was snowing huge, beautiful snowflakes. Huge, I tell ya! He opened the door after feeding the cows, and told me to get some shoes on and come outside. By this time, it was dark and cold. I put my jacket and shoes on and joined him out in the middle of the yard. He through his head back, and told me to do the same. He wanted me to experience the same thrill that he got from seeing just how cool it looked seeing the snow coming straight down on us. It might not be romantic to you, but it was to me.
Then he opened his mouth and started catching the snowflakes on his tongue, and that wasn't terribly romantic, but it was fun!!
So, I said all of that to remind you to make every single day Valentine's Day. We don't know when we will lose our Valentine.
Recent Comments