3 ways to make Valentine’s Day special

Noooooo! It can’t be the last day of January. But hoooooray! Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Surprise!
 
Valentine’s Day is a holiday you either love or detest.
 
It was especially painful during my high school years when a student club would sell carnations for Valentine's Day. They would ceremoniously deliver said carnations throughout the day during classes. I sat around waiting and hoping that someone, someone would send me a flower. (I’m looking at you Gary.) Not that I’m bitter or hold a grudge or anything petty like that.
 
Goodness gracious, negative thinking is such a waste of energy, wouldn’t you agree?

So go ahead and (like me) buy yourself a whole bouquet of carnations. Then, fully embrace making Valentine’s Day a great day for other people.
 
Here are three ways you can make Valentine’s Day special for someone else:
 
1. Mail a card.
Identify 20 of your biggest supporters and/or volunteers and send them a personal Valentine’s Day card (you can find them in packs in most stores or here). Thank them for all they do for your congregation or nonprofit.
 
2. Pick up the phone or text.
Call or text ten people just to say, “Happy Valentine’s Day” and “Thank you for all you do to make things run smoothly.” If you’re texting, add an appropriate gif.
 
3. Send an email.
Email 20 people. Come up with your own design or choose one from 123 Greetings or send a Blue Mountain ecard.
 
If you’re in a small church, you may have the bandwidth to be in touch with everyone in your congregation. So…go for it! If not, it’s OK to reach out to a few. You can spread the love throughout the year and eventually contact everyone.
 
Undoubtedly, you will be changed just by making other people feel good. Years ago, I had a pastor tell me, “When I wrote those Valentine’s Day cards, I fell in love with my congregation all over again.”
 
You can’t get any better than that.
 
Happy (and I do mean happy) Valentine’s Day! May your carnations delight you.
 
 
Want more ideas? Check these out:
 
4 Ways to Love on Your People for Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day: Show and Share the Love
 
Photo credit: monicore@pixabay.com

Cesie Delve Scheuermann (pronounced “CC Delv Sherman,” yes, really) is a Stewardship Consultant for the OR-ID Annual Conference. She is also a Senior Ministry Strategist with Horizons Stewardship. For 25 years, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she has helped raise over three million dollars for numerous churches and non-profit organizations. She wishes the Merrell Twins were around when she was in high school so that she could’ve heard their song “It’s Valentine’s Day.”
 
You can reach Cesie at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com, at CesieScheuermann.com, or at cesieds@horizons.net. Want to schedule a meeting? She’s got you covered!
 
Schedule a meeting now.
 
If someone has forwarded this to you and you would like to subscribe to "Inspiring Generosity," click here.  Miss an issue?  Click here.