The world could use a valentine right now!

“Make love, not war!”

In the ’60’s, with an ever-present two-finger “V” signal, these four words comprised the protest cry of hippies, druggies, dropouts and Vietnam war resisters. From Haight Ashbury in San Francisco to Woodstock on a New York dairy farm, dissident young people pushed back, lit up and dropped out, while their counterparts fought an unpopular war half a world away.

Today a generational mix, from four and five year old’s mimicking their parents to seniors pushing wheelchairs, are filling our streets, protesting issues and causes from immigration to women’s rights. Some demonstrate peacefully, respecting their message and those who are listening. Others carry signs depicting their anger, destroy property, hurl epithets, and lift “one-finger” salutes to accentuate their bitterness and defiance toward authority in general and whomever they happen to disagree with in particular.

 

“Make love, not war,” is sounding better to me everyday.

We all are watchers.

Communication, I mean really talking to each other, listening well, asking good questions, seeking great solutions, is not easy in today’s world of angry crowds and caustic tweets, hate and vitriol for dinner, frustration and division for dessert.

Mom and Dad, please, get it together for us kids. There’s so much anger out there. We’re trusting you, counting on you. Watching. Learning. Taking it all in everyday. Show us the love. Some people say God is love. Is he really? Will you help us understand? What’s it like to have the character of Jesus and not the selfishness of Judas? We want to know.

What’s good for our house is also good for the People’s House, Mr. President. We need you to be an example now. A great leader for us all, even when we aren’t getting our way. Don’t waste your energy reacting to our anger by spitting back. Just do the job we asked you to do. We know it’s a really big job and we are counting on you. Great power has been granted you, Mr. President. Great character is demanded of you. Even though it may not feel like it, we’re praying.

 

Love is worth fighting for.

I watched a beautiful couple this week struggle to communicate with one another, trying to find their way back again to a love with strong cords. They were awesome in their courage and determination. I believe they will do it. And while their children may not see the struggles I was witness to, they will laugh and learn and be secure in the shade of their parent’s hard-won love.

 

Which brings me to Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day evokes many emotions; happiness as we celebrate the love of family and friends, or sadness because we are alone.

Am I the only parent who ever wondered why my child had to give a Valentine to everyone in the class? It seemed a bit much. Especially when he didn’t want to give to kids he didn’t like. This is where Mom and Dad step up. We show the way. And kids watching us get it. A life lesson. When you give cards to everyone, you avoid hurt feelings.

If your child still complains about giving cards to kids she doesn’t like, let her write special messages on the cards to the ones she likes best. Just make sure she understands it is not negotiable. We are all in. Cards for everybody. Even the ones we don’t like.

It’s because, while we may not always get our way, everyone deserves a chance to be liked. Maybe even loved. God who loves us all steadfastly tells us this is nonnegotiable. However life is treating you, Bible verses like these heart-shaped messages from heaven are meant to encourage us in celebrating the unconditional love God has for us.

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ~ 1 John 4:8

Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. ~ 1 John 3:18

But sometimes we forget. We pass out hate and verbal abuse instead of cards for everyone. We break windows and burn stuff that isn’t ours. We threaten to move to Canada. One of us says she’s even thought of blowing up the White House (‘metaphorically’ speaking of course). I say try explaining that to your four year old, ‘metaphorically’.

Yes, the world could really use a Valentine right now.

Especially in times like these.