When Valentine’s Day Is Difficult

“I hate Valentine’s Day. I’m divorced, and I don’t have a boyfriend.” Jenny had stopped me in the parking lot of the gym to lament her situation.

“At one time, I also dreaded Valentine’s Day but not anymore.”

Jenny raised her brows and said, “What changed?”

“Let me share with you what my mentors taught me. If I want flowers and candy, I buy them.”

She raised her brows again but said nothing.

“I don’t want to be in a restaurant at dinnertime on Valentine’s Day, but I can go out to breakfast and lunch or order dinner to go.

That made Jenny smile. I told her about the times I scheduled a massage or bought a new outfit on sale. She nodded.

“Several times I invited girlfriends to my home for a potluck dinner or we chipped in for pizza and watched a movie.”

“What do I do with the kids? I can’t afford a babysitter.”

I suggested she have a single moms night and let them bring their children to play with hers.

“But I live in a small townhouse. I don’t have room for lots of people.”

I told her I also lived in a townhouse and invited only two other single mothers when my child lived at home. None of the single moms I knew had more than two or three children. “It all worked out, Jenny.”

She hugged me and said goodbye. I appreciated the opportunity to share what my mentors had taught me.

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs 15:22

Dear God, please help me survive Valentine’s Day. Amen.

Application: What will you do for Valentine’s Day?