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Offering A Heart With Love
Gestures more than romance
Last night one of my relatives stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few items after work. She made it a point to call me and tell me the line around the floral section was wrapping through the produce and deli aisles.
She also mentioned that most of them were men.
It made me smile picturing all these guys responding to Valentine’s Day with flowers for someone they love. I’ve seen them myself in previous years. Carhart and denim, work-booted and tired stand in line with the suited and suavely dressed workers. They’re all on a mission.
Not to forget Valentine’s Day.
As children we learn to make paper hearts or punch out manufactured valentines to give to our classmates. Even at that age we gave or received the largest one to the person catching our eye.
I never really understood the phrase Be My Valentine. What does that even mean other than being the last name of the man who became a saint?
Instead, I have come to believe that giving a gift on St. Valentine’s Day gestures the meaning, “Here is my heart. I am opening it to you and freely giving my love.”