Rebel Yell

If you know me, you know I love LOVE. I'm full to the brim with it. I preach it, I hope I share it continually, I believe in it. Yet when it comes to Valentine's Day, I really don't love that day. You know the people who get all bent out of shape about Christmas and say it's a holiday that is commercially fueled? Well I think Valentines Day is the epitome of a commercial holiday. To take something like the concept of love-a quality and act that is supposed to direct humans in all we do, and make one special day for it-including flowers and candy and diamonds and teddy bears to show our love...that is commercialism at it's finest. I am one who believes we should show love to everyone ALL the time. I am not saying I am perfect in doing this. I could improve just like everyone else. But one day of showing love is not enough. Especially when you are trying to buy someone's love. I love to give gifts as much as the next person. But love needs to be an act that is carried out every single day of our lives. Thus, my rebel yell. If there is going to be a holiday that is grumbled about-Valentines Day is the one to pick on.

Yes, I believe in love and hearts and mushy shows of emotion...
but for every day...not just one.

To be fair, if there is an occasion to show love, I think it should be done. So Valentine's Day is good for that reason. And I have to admit that working in an elementary school full of darling children makes me feel love every day. I had such sweet little moments at school on Wednesday as I received, cards and hugs and little treasures from the  kids I am blessed to interact with. And the love I received from my friends and family was tender and cherished as well. So I believe in any day that encourages love-I just think it needs to be a constant, and not one day that we show it. I realize I am taking the day very literal, but if love was taken this literal in every day of life, it would be a very different world.

I have had people ask me how I think it's possible to do this every day. As I said, I am not perfect. People bug me, they stress me out, they make me feel inferior. I get ignored and treated unfairly just like everyone else. I complain sometimes. But what saves me is the ability to find goodness in everyone whether they have wounded me or ignored me or mistreated me or just made me grouchy. I feel blessed to be able to do this, though it takes effort for me at times. But I practice-and that makes it easier no matter who the person is. Everyone needs to voice frustration now and then. But after this frustration presents itself, finding even one good thing in each person gives perspective and much needed balm to the soul. In the many times that monsterous self-doubt has reared it's ugly head at me, looking for the good in others has quite literally saved my life. And I am using that word properly. What I'm really saying is all you have to do to show love is look for compassion in yourself. Find the good. Do good, say good, be good. Compassion is a key ingredient in being happy in this world. It provides comfort, self-evaluation, a way to be actively searching for good, develops empathy, and brings the Light of Christ into your heart and into your being. It helps you overcome the natural man and prove to yourself the good there is inside you. Want to overcome your shortcomings and mistakes? Do good. Be good. Be Kind. Love.

There are grand acts that can be carried out to show love. My sister is on a 2 week service mission in Haiti as I write this. She is receiving all kinds of perspective and feeling gratitude as she carries out her work in serving others. I'm happy for her and proud of her. I feel an almost unbearable, painful need to go to my little island of St. Maarten and help them rebuild their slice of Heaven. I wish I had the means and opportunity to do so. But as that is not something I can do at this point, showing compassion to ALL I can is the difference I have to be content with. ALL people are suffering in some way and helping to relieve their burdens for even a minute is what compassion is about.

Valentine's Day is a good place to start. Let's keep it moving forward. Join me in my Rebel Yell against commercialized love one day of the year. Pay it forward. Show love. Appreciate the people in your life. See the good in everyone despite their mistakes and bad habits. You'd want them to do the same for you. Make amends where you need to. Check in with the people you've ghosted. Make a difference. BE KIND... EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. And be grateful.