Choose People. Choose Love This Valentine’s Day.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I love LOVE.

I have always been a romantic, and I love everything about love. I have to hold myself back from making everything sappy most of the time, but I really just love everything about love and what it causes us to do when we love hard.

Love truly knows no bounds.

I could watch romantic movies over and over again.

Josh and I had our first kiss on this day 16 years ago, and it is always a special day to celebrate and remember.

But, I know, I know, there are many haters for this holiday!

And with that in mind, I want to give some encouragement for those who are “haters” or for those who are struggling this holiday, which I know is so, so many.

I know it can be extremely difficult to celebrate this holiday when you are single, or if you have recently lost someone, if you are in rough relationships, or when you have had bad experiences with this holiday in the past.

My heart hurts so badly for so many of you.

For Josh’s cousin (who’s my age), this is her first Valentine’s Day without her husband whom she lost this summer, and she is raising their 2 year old daughter as a single mom. She is incredible and God’s strength has been made so perfect through her.

I cannot imagine the emotions this holiday brings up for her and so many others who are struggling.

But, here’s what I want to remind you with.

You are loved. (At least by Jesus, and I bet by at least someone else, too).

Not only are you loved, but you love someone.

A friend.

A spouse.

A child.

A significant other.

A co-worker.

A grandfather.

A cousin.

There is at least one person you love.

So, make today special for THEM.

If you are feeling sorry for yourself, and even if you probably have every reason to, here’s your challenge.

Make today special for someone else.

Today isn’t over yet.

Go buy the card.

Go give a hug and encouraging word.

Offer to take someone out to dinner.

Go buy someone flowers.

Send a simple text expressing your love.

It doesn’t have to be extravagant.

I don’t know about you, but I feel the most loved when I am loving others well.

So, if you find yourself already bitter this Valentine’s day for the gift you didn’t receive or the call you didn’t get, look inward and make up your mind for the rest of the day to show someone else the love you are craving.

Life is truly most fulfilling when we are giving more [with a pure heart] than when we are getting.

As much as we want to be chosen and feel special, we always have the power and choice to choose someone else. I’m choosing others today. Join me.

Let’s go LOVE for the rest of this Valentine’s Day,

Aly