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It seems a bit cliché doesn’t it? I’m writing about love the day before Valentine’s Day. However, I cannot image not talking about the love the Lord has for us on a holiday that has people around the world thinking about love.

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked” (Luke 6:35).

Love does no harm to neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 3:10).

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7).

Do you think God wants us to love each other? He calls us to be above the hate in this world and love each other unconditionally. This is one of the many reasons I enjoy Valentine’s Day.

Sure, it can be a blast when you have that special someone with whom to celebrate. But if you’re one who doesn’t have a significant other this holiday, consider the gratification that comes from pouring love into someone else’s life regardless of your relationship status.

Today, with so much hate talk and opposing opinions that cause severed friendships and relationships, choosing love is the only option when it comes to what the Lord tells us.

There are a couple of things you can do to show love to those around you this Valentine’s Day and I want to challenge you to do at least one to brighten someone’s day.

  1. Make them something! This is a simple way of showing someone that you thought about them and care about them enough to make something with your own two hands for them. For me, I like to bake for people. There are only a few things that I can successfully bake, so I stick to those few things for the safety of the people around me. I also love sending cards to those around me, so this is the perfect opportunity to spread a little Valentine’s love.
  2. Do something for them! This can be for someone you live with, a family member, house-mate or even a husband or wife. There are no limitations to whom you can bless with an act of kindness. Do the dishes, clean the bathroom (yuck) or fold some laundry (double-yuck). All of these are things we all can admit we don’t take joy in doing, so it would mean a lot to do it for someone to show them you care. And I’m pretty sure it WON’T kill you.
  3. Make a stranger smile! This is a little broad, I get that. But so many times during our daily routines we encounter people we don’t know. How nice would it be to leave that stranger better than we found them? Buy a coffee, compliment them in some way or even just smile at them in passing. These small things may seem a bit silly, but I can assure you they don’t go unnoticed.

Be the light to those around you by showing love, not just on Valentine’s Day, but as I like to say especially on Valentine’s Day! Make them wonder what is different about you and tell them that while you may not know them specifically, there is someone who knows and loves them immensely. For those who you know and love, be sure to tell them just that!