Valentine’s Day can be a tough day regardless of circumstances. As a single person, I find different ways to make the day tolerable. Today, I spent a wonderful day with a family member who is single like myself, and we had a fun Gal-entine’s Day hanging out. As we entered a store, someone held the front door open for us, and as we entered the interior door, I held it open for all the people behind us. As everyone passed through, I spontaneously said, “Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!” I was rewarded with smiles and thanks.
Pondering how surprised and pleased everyone seemed at just one little greeting, I suddenly remembered working in the public library system. I learned over the years how important it was to greet people as they came through the front door. Sometimes people just need to be seen and heard. They aren’t looking for a grand gesture. They just need to know that someone – anyone – knows they are here, and for just a moment when we do something simple like smile at them, they know that we have seen them.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. […] Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:7-8 & 11, NKJV)
As children of God, we are called to love fellow believers, but we are also to demonstrate love to all of God’s children. This means we are to carry Christ-like love with us to work. It doesn’t have to be any harder than we make it. Be a little more patient when someone needs it. Be kind when someone has a bad day. Be forgiving if you must correct someone else’s mistake. Listen without commenting when someone needs to unload.
Many people will appreciate those gestures and will wonder what makes us able to love that way. If someone doesn’t appreciate it, don’t get frustrated or discouraged. We don’t show God’s love to others for a reaction. We do it because it’s the Christ-like thing to do. Let’s remember to bring God’s love with us to work each day and give people a reason to wonder what makes us so different from the world.
All Things Subject to Change 