This year we will celebrate 43 years of marriage. That’s a lot of valentine celebrations! Of course, some have been more memorable than others but the older we get, the more special they become.
Today, I helped serve a Valentine luncheon for widows in our church. Ron was invited since he had served as a pastor to many of them and the present pastors were there as well. I felt privileged to serve today. I knew the husbands of many of these women who are now with the Lord.
Because I was serving, I wasn’t able to hear all the conversations but here are some tidbits. One lady was wearing a charm bracelet with romantic charms for special dates given to her by her husband…a valentine charm from 1968 (the year we were married!)…one from 1969 that I think she said was for their 20 year anniversary…and one that was her last valentine before he died. Another lady was talking about her husband’s proposal (on Valentine’s Day). The conversation was lively and pleasant. Many were talking about their spouses some of whom haven’t been gone very long.
The meal was a pretty one in a lovely home on china with lots of girly touches. One of our young mothers made some beautiful cookies to take home along with a beautiful pink rose for each lady.
Celebrating Valentine’s Day with a group of widows is a wonderful way to spend the day! If you have never done it, I would recommend it. It puts all the petty complaints we have against our husbands into perspective. Does he leave his socks lying around? (not one of my particular complaints). What if he was no longer there to leave them? I’m not trying to be morbid, but it does put our complaints into perspective, doesn’t it?
So today, grab your loved one and give him a great big hug! He is here with you…for now. He isn’t perfect, nor does he live with a woman who is!
Give him grace…as it has been given to you by Christ! Choose to love him or her (if you are one of my few male readers). God is in the business of changing people, but do you know where he starts first? He starts with YOU!
This was originally written in 2011.
This is such a loving idea…what a beautiful way to minister to widows!
Martha, this was a beautiful event in many ways. The widows were not forgotten on a day that is typically celebrated with a spouse or spouse to be. Your love showed them they are not alone which demonstrates the omnipresence of God. The love of Christ was given to them by you and others who seved them and this reminds us and them about our marriage with Christ. One other connection I see is that your service was exemplary of Christ’s servanthood. He seved others when he walked on earth. He didn’t seek to be served. Thank you for sharing your experience and showing me how to love the widows in my life so that Christ will be ever present to them.
just so it is clear, I was a very small player in this event. others planned and worked much harder than I did. I was glad they thought of it and I was very glad they asked me to help serve. it was delightful! I’m glad to know women that are so thoughtful and can put something like this together in such a beautiful way.
What a great event for Valentine’s Day!
it was so fun:) wish i had thought up the idea:)
I love the idea of a charm bracelet. How sweet! Happy Valentine’s Day Martha!
it was very pretty. they were all valentine and anniversary dates. very personal:)