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Five TCW readers share the unique ways they've celebrated their friends and family on the Day of Love. Why not borrow an idea or two this February 14?
The $5 Challenge Since my husband and I have a tight budget, last year for Valentine's Day we set our spending limit at $5. For his gift, I delivered to his workplace homemade heart-shaped sugar cookies in a decorated gift bag we had at home with two big heart balloons attached ($1 apiece). When he came home that night, I'd lit candles all around the house and had drawn him a hot bath, complete with Buzz Lightyear bubble bath and some cheap toy boats ($3 at the dollar store). It was a great Valentine's Day! We plan to keep our low spending limit to see how creative we can be.
—Sara Deaton, Montana
A Timely Reminder The world likes to tell us we're worthless if we aren't romantically involved with someone, especially on Valentine's Day. Last year I wanted to change that message for the teen girls God's placed in my life. So I hosted a special Valentine's party for them. We played games, had a short devotion, ate a lot, and just enjoyed being together. I hope each girl came away not only with a box of chocolates, but also with the knowledge that being "alone" on Valentine's Day isn't a bad thing, and that ultimately, a relationship with Christ is the best valentine.
—Laura Wagener, Michigan
Red Food, Dude Several years ago, I'd just begun dating someone when Valentine's Day rolled around. I didn't want to show up empty-handed when he took me to dinner, but what do you buy a single guy for Valentine's Day?! I finally realized all bachelors like munchies, so I bought him a basket of red food—apples, fruit roll-ups, salsa (and chips), beef jerky, red jelly beans, and red foil-covered Hershey Kisses. It wasn't the most romantic gift, but my then-boyfriend loved it!
—Cammy Smith, Illinois
Homespun Fun My college roommate was an elementary education major, and one year I was her guinea pig for a homemade valentine lesson plan. We cut floral wrapping paper and doilies into heart shapes and wrote Bible verses about love on them, such as "A friend loves at all times" (Proverbs 17:17) and "The Lord your God … will quiet you with his love" (Zephaniah 3:17). The friends and family members we sent the final products to loved them.
—Karen Sullivan, Washington
Something Fishy Last year for Valentine's Day, I bought a bag of Swedish fish candy and some chocolates (a must on any holiday) and put them in red Chinese take-out type containers. I jotted on the gift tags a limerick for my single girlfriends about how there are lots of fish in the sea, but that I enjoy sharing life together until we find ours. It was fun brightening the day of some people who can feel left out on this holiday.
—Marlene Brown, Colorado
Copyright © 2004 by the author or Christianity Today International/Today's Christian Woman magazine.
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