Living in the Storm: The Valentine's Table Cloth

for as long as i can remember my mom and dad had such a special way of included us kiddo's on valentine's day. they didn't desert us with a cranky babysitter, they didn't exclude us from the day's events b/c it was "their" holiday... instead, they set their own agenda's aside and made the whole day about us.

the house was decorated to the nines. little baskets full of "happies" were placed around the old dining room table. steaks (bought only once a year in our home), were purchased. some classic love songs played on the tape player, the kids were all busy up stairs, "dressing up" for the big dinner. loads of candles around the house were burning. the heart brownie cake with cherries and whipped cream was chilling, and mom, mom was ironing the table cloth.

the dinner was an ever evolving event. as we grew, special someone's were invited... and then uninvited the next year. ;) sometimes b/c of living far apart we all couldn't always be around the table together. but that never stopped mom and dad. whoever was here, whoever was available, were always welcomed.

i am pretty sure my last valentine's dinner was 2005, the year Joanna and Matt were married. i was home for the event, and i have clear pictures in my mind sitting around the gillette street dining room, laughing and laughing as the bride and groom stared dreamily at each other...

it goes without saying, that this year i was home for the valentine's dinner. the menu was the same; steaks and the heart brownie with cherries and whipped cream. the table was mine. the guests were as pleasant, and as many as ever (minus 3 bostonian's of course...) the only music we listened to was the chorus of 6 children under 8 talking, (ok, bossing a little), we all "dressed" up in our reds and pinks. only two candles were lit on the table so that anderson didn't burn the house down. and the table cloth, oh the table cloth, it was ironed...

valentine's day is not just a day about romantic love, but really it's about all the different and important types of love relationships we have with a multitude of people. my mom and dad have done an amazing job teaching us that loving others is the most important characteristic to possess. b/c without love, we are nothing. it only takes a glimpse of my parent's life to see that love has moved them to do things, to be things, to sacrifice time and hours of emotional energy, to lay down their lives over and over again, all in the name of love. love for their children (all 8 of them), their grandchildren, their families, their friends, their neighbors, their congregation, and each other.

mom, i ironed the table cloth out of love for you, and you alone. i know details aren't your thing right now, but as you touched the table cloth the other night, i couldn't help but think you noticed, some where in the tunnels of your mind, you noticed.

i hope each of you can find a way to celebrate love today. i hope that no matter your marital status, relational status, familial status, that you uncover love; show love, receive love.

"God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life, REAL LIFE, through him. " 1 John 4:9

Happy Valentine's Day,
~s