My earliest memory of Valentine's Day was hearing my mother tell me that my father did not do any shopping except for Valentine's day. “He had to make sure his children would have Valentines” she would remind us.
Every year, I loved hearing that story. It spoke to me of my father’s love for us, and of a wife who also treasured this memory of her husband who had died much too young, leaving her a widow, with seven children. My Irish mother had a wise way of basting that story like an egg, and it is forever etched in my memory and treasured in my heart.
In keeping with the theme of love and loss, I find myself reflecting on all the good-hearted health care workers in all parts of our world. They have been kind and caring for critically ill, frightened, and dying patients with Covid 19. To this, there has been an outpouring of gratitude by the public, rippling through towns, cities, and the entire world. Witnessing the commitment of health care workers, we ourselves have been empowered to rise up, to give more.
We shift into a deepened oneness with the suffering, the caregiver, the “dear neighbor” hence, consciously expand our circle of loving to include all people.
This Valentine Day I predict there will be more home-made Valentines. There will be more flowers given. This year I will remember the life-giving energy of significant people who currently touch my life, especially those people in the past who have loved me into life. They are etched in my soul.
- Sr. Patricia St. Louis csj