The Day of Love, Friendship, and Sweets
When you typically think of Valentine's Day you imagine yummy chocolates, a bouquet of fresh
roses, an enormous over-priced stuffed teddy bear, and maybe even something sparkly. Valentine's
Day has always been catered to couples and love and mushy feelings. The girl is supposed to dress up
(red lipstick is a must) and the guy is charged with the "responsibility" to get his girlfriend the
perfect gifts, which are to be "presented" at school so that the entire student body can "oooo" and
"ahhhh" over how much he actually cares for and "loves" his girlfriend.
And for those that don't have someone to fawn over them are generally left in the shadows to be
forgotten by the entire "love industry". Rare are the gifts exchanged between friends to show
affection and care. The entire holiday has been grossly exploited and blown completely out of
proportion. You should love and admire your significant other on a daily basis. One holiday shouldn't
determine how you act towards them.
This year, along with all previous years, I didn't have a Valentine. Being away at college has helped
me to forget some of the petty things that I thought were so important during my high school years,
including having a guy to buy me sweet tokens on V-day. I didn't mind being without a Valentine,
because honestly I was just thankful it was Friday. But to my surprise I awoke to find sweet notes,
paper roses, and heart confetti decorating my desk, courtesy of my ever thoughtful roommate Rileigh.
Then I was greeted by candy and home made Valentines from our home teachers, AND even more
candy and sugar scrub from my other apartment-mate Katie. School was fantastic (only because it
was Friday). Then to my complete surprise I go home to find roses lying on my bed from my best guy
friend asking to be my Valentine. Also I found chocolate covered pretzels adding sweetness to my
already laden desk. I then spent the evening at the movies with my bestie Rileigh, we saw Endless
Love which was absolutely phenomenal, which was then followed by party dancing in our living
room. One could say that I was completely devoid of "love" this Valentines. The mushy, gushy kind
that couples proudly put on display for all of their Instagram followers and Facebook friends to see.
But that person would be wrong. I was shown an immense outpouring of love from all my friends.
Everyday I'm able to witness the love expressed between people, these little random acts of kindness
that keeps us all happy. Happy to be loved. Service is the pure love of Christ and service is what I
was shown. Although I didn't have a boyfriend this Valentine's, my stupendous friends and their little
bits of service and love MORE than made up for it.
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