Valentine’s Day is coming up – a day filled with pleasure for some and apprehension for others. How many children worry that they will be the only one in the class who doesn’t receive a card? How many teens worry and wonder if they will receive a card, or if they should send a card – not to mention presents. How many adults keep florists, restaurants, confectioners, jewelers, very busy and prosperous for this one “special” day in the year?
As a kid, I was lucky – my school required that if children were bringing in Valentine cards for one, they had to bring them in for everyone in the class. From kindergarten through grade eight, I had the wonderful experience, in school, of feeling “liked” and being surrounded by others who looked forward to sharing Valentines, too! The day, in our house, was one that was mostly recognized in school – with my mother participating through her foresightedness by purchasing the packages of “kid cards” for my brothers and I to sign and distribute.
My parents didn’t need to do anything “special” because they demonstrated their love every day by participating in the daily acts of family life. We ate meals together, watched TV together, talked and argued together – all in the surrounding assurance that we had someone at our backs. That’s not to say that we were not also punished for childhood misbehavior – we definitely were – but it is to say that we were assured that parental love would always be ours. We knew that our parents would protect us from want and keep us safe from ourselves and others.
Both of our parents are gone, now, and even into late adulthood I retain the aura of their love. Through their examples I learned how to parent and even how to come to God’s grace. I did nothing to earn their love and devotion – they gave it out of the generosity of their souls, just as God did in giving us the crucified and risen Jesus. When Pastor Nathan talks about Grace, I always have to keep in mind that it’s nothing I merit, nothing I can either earn or reject – God gives it, through Jesus, whether I acknowledge it or not. What a comfort.
Author: Diane Bechtold
As a kid, I was lucky – my school required that if children were bringing in Valentine cards for one, they had to bring them in for everyone in the class. From kindergarten through grade eight, I had the wonderful experience, in school, of feeling “liked” and being surrounded by others who looked forward to sharing Valentines, too! The day, in our house, was one that was mostly recognized in school – with my mother participating through her foresightedness by purchasing the packages of “kid cards” for my brothers and I to sign and distribute.
My parents didn’t need to do anything “special” because they demonstrated their love every day by participating in the daily acts of family life. We ate meals together, watched TV together, talked and argued together – all in the surrounding assurance that we had someone at our backs. That’s not to say that we were not also punished for childhood misbehavior – we definitely were – but it is to say that we were assured that parental love would always be ours. We knew that our parents would protect us from want and keep us safe from ourselves and others.
Both of our parents are gone, now, and even into late adulthood I retain the aura of their love. Through their examples I learned how to parent and even how to come to God’s grace. I did nothing to earn their love and devotion – they gave it out of the generosity of their souls, just as God did in giving us the crucified and risen Jesus. When Pastor Nathan talks about Grace, I always have to keep in mind that it’s nothing I merit, nothing I can either earn or reject – God gives it, through Jesus, whether I acknowledge it or not. What a comfort.
Author: Diane Bechtold
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1 comment:
This post brought lovely memories of my own childhood and family. What wonderful gifts we have been given. God's Grace blesses me every day.
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