Valentine's Day.
For some, this holiday is a reason to celebrate loved ones, indulge in a ridiculous amount of chocolate, and snuggle up with a good rom-com. For others, this holiday ushers in the uninvited reminder that we don't have a certain someone and brings feelings of disappointment into our relationships. It is generally a day to be avoided.
I get it. I've been in both camps. And while I agree that we don't need a commercialized holiday to prompt us to show others love, the holiday isn't all bad. I would argue that it isn't the holiday that needs a make-over, but our expectations.
Instead of viewing Valentine's Day as an invitation to a pity party, what if we chose to celebrate with a day filled with loving and honoring our friends and family?
1. Host a Galentine's Day Dinner
Nothing makes me happier than to grab my gal pals together, whip up a good meal, and laugh till our bellies hurt. Want to host a Galantine's dinner this year? Here are a few options.
-Dust off those old cookbooks and plan out a crowd-pleasing meal. Don't overthink it; sometimes, it's the simplest of menus that bring the five-star reviews. My go-to menu always involves some sort of salad, pasta, and a less than 5-ingredient dessert.
-Invite your guests to bring a dish to share and enjoy a good old-fashioned potluck. Assign different people appetizers, main dishes, and desserts.
-Similar to the above, but host an appetizer-only party. Each guest brings their favorite starter, dip, or pick-up to share.
-You could also have a coffee and dessert party. Make a coffee station with specialty creamers, chocolate stirrers, whipped cream, and sprinkles.
-Are you rushed for time? Everyone loves a good pizza slice ( or two; it's a party, right?). Skip the hassle of prep-work and clean-up.
If decorating for the event is your thing, please go all out. But if you are less than Pinterest-perfect, that's okay, too. It's not about the decorations or even the food. It's about spending time with the people we love and celebrating the blessing of friendship.
2. Have a Date Night
While date nights are always welcomed, I understand that, as a mom of three young girls, they are not often an option. Especially for couples in the trenches of parenting, numerous things keep us from carving out time with our spouses. Still, the relationship with your spouse is essential, and we must prioritize time together.
While you can have a date night any time, why not use Valentine's Day to get something on the calendar? Here are a few ways to overcome obstacles that keep us from pulling off a date night.
-Need someone to watch the kids? Consider reaching out to another couple and trading babysitting duties. We have some close family friends that, every few months, we will take turns watching the children so that each couple can enjoy quality time together.
-Contact your student minister or teacher friend and ask if they have any babysitting recommendations.
-If going out isn't an option, plan to put the kids to bed earlier and enjoy dinner without the children. Depending on the age of your kids, you could compensate your older children to watch their siblings so that you and your spouse can enjoy some time alone.
-Consider going on a lunch date with your significant other. Meals are typically cheaper during the day, and you don't have to worry about childcare with kids in school.
Valentine's Day falls on different days throughout the week; most of the time, celebrating on the exact date will be near impossible. But that can be a good thing. Sitters are harder to come by, and restaurants tend to be booked way in advance, so take advantage of celebrating a few days before or after.
3. Throw a Family Valentine's Party
My girls love a chance to have their friends over. This is an excellent opportunity to speak to your children about practicing hospitality, sharing that we can show love to others because God first loved us. Let your children invite one or two friends, and extend the invite to the whole family. Here are a few things to remember about hosting a family Valentine's Party.
-You may need to reserve a space depending on how many people you invite. Many churches allow members to rent their gyms or family life centers for free. Depending on where you live, renting a shelter at a park or a room at a community center might be an option. If you choose to host at your house, don't stress about people sitting in mix-matched chairs or the cleanliness of the baseboards. Those things don't matter! People won't remember the color of your matching pillows. But they will recall how you made them feel that night.
-Make a Valentine's card station by busting out the construction paper, grabbing some dollies, and a lot of glitter. Word to the wise, if possible, set this station up outside to cut down on clean up.
-Do a quick internet search and look up easy pick-up foods and punch. A fan-favorite recipe for many of my gatherings is super simple. Mix one 2-liter lemon-lime soda and 1 gallon of pink lemonade, and garnish with raspberries or strawberries.
-Make a "love-tree" out of an old branch from the yard and paper hearts. Encourage everyone to write down their favorite verse about love and hang it on the tree. At night's end, have guests take a heart from the tree home as a reminder that they are loved!
However you choose to celebrate (or not) Valentine's Day this year, cling to the truth that you are loved. Our Father in Heaven loved you so much that He sent His one and only Son, Jesus so that we could have eternal life (John 3:16). It is because of the great Love that God has for His people that we can show love to others, not just one time a year, but 365 days a year.
She lives in Upstate South Carolina with her husband and three young girls, where she serves as director of women's ministries at her church. Her passion is teaching the Bible to women, equipping them to live with an eternal perspective. Invite Laura to speak at your next event or learn more: www.LauraRBailey.com
Originally published Thursday, 25 January 2024.
