• Philia (φιλία) -friendship
• Eros (ἐρεῶ)- romantic love
• Storge (storgē) – love for family
• Agape (ἀγάπη) – perfect/unconditional love; God’s love

We experience love in various ways. With today being Valentine’s Day, it’s a day to focus on those we love. I’ll have to admit, this is a tough day for me personally as it’s my first Valentine’s Day without my husband in forty years. He would always bring me my favorite flowers, we’d cook at home, and share of bottle of wine. Looking back, I’m very thankful that we made the effort to celebrate special occassions. For birthdays, each person would pick their favorite meal and cake/pie to be prepared and celebrated together at home. I’m glad that we “marked” those days as special. 

I’m learning this year that I can still celebrate love, although it looks quite different. My family and friends are standing in the gap, to be sure.  My daughter and her husband have asked me to go spend a few days with them to help as they prepare for baby #2. I know that they know I need to be with Leo today, but I’m playing along. My son and daughter-in-law sent me the most precious note about my husband and I and the marriage we modeled for them, crafted so beautifully and carefully.  Friends have sent lovely, encouraging messages of hope and love. 

We experience all different types of love throughout our lives. As parents and grandparents, we experience such a protective, unconditional love. It’s modeled after God’s love for us- pure, unconditional and eternal.  He designed our very hearts and minds to love in all these different ways, and I believe He teaches us through example of how we are to love others.

Today, as we buy flowers or candy, send cards, send encouraging text messages, prepare meals and open bottles of wine (and go to Ash Wednesday services!), let’s not forget to take an opportunity to teach our LITTLES about God’s AGAPE LOVE. Let’s read them stories about Jesus and the sacrificial love He has modeled to the world. Let’s go to church or BOOK SOME TIME WITH OUR KIDS TODAY and teach them about the best of all loves, God’s love.

History of Valentine’s Day, History.com

Jesus Loves Me; books for kids

ASH WEDNESDAY, Dynamic Catholic

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