When I was a little girl, I remember my mom and I making some gift for another woman. Mom let me put it on her doorstep and ring the doorbell, and then I got to run away before she came to the door. What I realize now was that my mom wasn’t merely filling our day with fun things to do. She wasn’t using me as the delivery person because she was too dignified to ring the doorbell and dash away. She loves to give, and she was teaching me to be a giver, too.
Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, and I’m using this day as an opportunity to teach my children how much fun it is to give to others. We’re making candy today and will deliver some to a few widows in our church that David enjoys talking to. David cut out airplanes and glued them on papers with hearts for cards. We already sent one to his favorite babysitter now far away. We’ll clean out daddy’s car for him tomorrow, and decorate his office. Doing these things is more than teaching them how to act on Valentine’s day. I want to pass on the heritage of loving, that is, giving time and possessions to those around us, just as my mom and dad taught me.
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