A Valentine's Message of Universal Love

by Adena M’lynn

Soon the calendar will turn to  February 14th, our world will be adorned with symbols of love—red hearts, chocolates, flowers, and heartfelt messages. These tokens of affection capture the essence of Valentine's Day, a time to celebrate the love that enriches our lives. Yet, the true spirit of Valentine's Day transcends these beautiful gestures, reaching into the depths of our humanity to touch the lives of those who might feel forgotten or alone.


This Valentine's Day, let us broaden the scope of our love, extending our hearts to those who walk the shadowed paths of life. Imagine being a living, breathing red heart for those who have no one—the sick, whether in body or mind, the dying, and those who dedicate their lives to caring for them. Consider the profound impact of offering your love to a child without a family, to individuals without kin, to the many who navigate this world in solitude.


You don't need grand gestures to convey this love. If the words "You are loved" feel too heavy on your tongue, let them find expression in simpler, quieter ways. Leave them written on a napkin for a stranger to find, etch them on a frosty window for the world to see, or scribble them on a piece of paper to be discovered when least expected. Your kind gestures—the small acts of compassion and empathy—can speak volumes, resonating with a warmth that outshines the brightest of Valentine's gifts.


This year, join me in committing to being a Valentine to someone in need of love. Let's use this day not only to celebrate the love we have but to spread love where it's needed most. In doing so, we honor the true essence of our existence, reminding ourselves and others that love knows no bounds, that it can cross the greatest of divides, and that no one should ever feel truly alone.


So, as you celebrate this day of love, remember: your capacity to love is limitless. Whether through a smile, a kind word, a small note, or a listening ear, you have the power to be someone's Valentine, to bring light to their darkness, and to show them that, in this vast and often daunting world, they are truly loved. Let's make Valentine's Day a celebration of universal love, one that reaches every corner of the human heart.
Location: 3600 Village Harbor Dr, Petoskey, MI 49770, USA

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