5 Ways to Help Soothe the Sting of Valentine's Day

I appreciated the fun response to yesterday’s post about Valentine’s Day. But I’m also aware that February 14^th can be a difficult day for many people.

Every Valentine’s Day the world fairly explodes with flowers, chocolate, and the color pink. If love is abundant in your life, those trappings can be a joyful reminder. But for the lonely it can make for a long, difficult day.

For many people, Valentine ’s Day isn’t a celebration of love and romance at all. It’s salt, burning in the wounds of their loneliness. Some have suffered the heartache of a broken relationship or the death of a spouse. Others have never married and still feel the sting of that unrealized dream. And it’s not just the absence of romance that can be painful. Think of kids without a mom or dad who long to be loved by a forever family, or the elderly and infirmed who spend their days all alone.

Love and connection are not fleeting emotions. They’re as vital to our health and well-being as the air we breathe.

So this Valentine’s Day, here are a few ways we might reach out to those who are struggling with loneliness:

Consider giving them a box of chocolates or a card.
If appropriate, extend an invitation to a special dinner.
Give a call to someone you’ve been meaning to connect with, especially a widow or widower.
Write an email.
Pray for them.

I can assure you that it won’t take much to lift a lonely person’s spirit, even if it’s only for a few minutes. You’d be surprised what difference small expressions of love can make.

However you choose to express it, I hope you might consider setting aside a few moments to let someone in a tough spot know they’re loved.