A Rose From a Stranger

This morning as I was leaving class there was a short, peculiar brunette who was handing out a variety of flowers to random female students saying, “Happy Valentine’s day!” At first glance I thought it was such a praiseworthy gesture for her to take the time to do such a sweet thing and to spend her own money on complete strangers. But then the beauty of her actions hit me like the cool wind that tousled my hair, and a smile crept over my face as I rode back to my apartment on my rickety, pink and white Roadmaster.

Today is about love, it’s about appreciating and celebrating the love that we have in our lives, whether that love comes from your family, a friend, your roommate, the good Lord above, or even a complete stranger. It can be found in a concerning text asking, “Are you okay?” Or the gesture of attending a particular event, it can be found in an admirable glance, behind a camera lense, or in an “I’m so proud of you.” It can be found in a group of friends on a night like this who aren’t particularly fond of romance but are very fond of adult beverages. Love can be found on a stove top, in a batch of cookies, or on shelves in a picture frame; it can be found on a canvas, in a book, in a compliment, or in a short phone call. It can be found on a shoulder that catches tears or in ears that listen to worries and sorrows, in a hug or a smile, or even in a simple flower from a complete stranger.

So even if you don’t have a person to call your “Valentine” in a romantic sense, celebrate today for what it is, a day of love and happiness. Today is the youngest you will be for the rest of your days, it’s a day you won’t ever get back, and though we all have our problems, let today be a day to rejoice in the good that we do have, the hope yet to come, and the love that we can cherish. Happy Valentine’s Day everyone, let this day allow you to love and be loved, God bless.