VALENTINE
Cut-out hearts are hung on red strings, flowers adorn shop
windows, stuffed bears in all colors and sizes lined up at the mall stalls. The
season of hearts has dawned upon us once again. Some may refer to it as the
second most capitalist celebration of the year. Others just call it Valentine’s
Day.
Blessed was I to grow up in a home that knew love. Kisses,
hugs, and ILYs were a norm under our roof and us children never grew out of
them. Although, I have my reasons for being afraid of falling in love. But I
guess the heavens knew my heart so well, my path in life led me to someone who
not only loved me but also adored and treasured me.
One of the things I’ve learned, and I’m sure we’ve all heard
this, is that love is a give and take. And while many would argue that in this
giving and taking, both parties must give equal and take equal, I beg to
differ.
Sometimes, we would find ourselves in the giving end of the
spectrum without getting anything in return. We would lose sleep over a rush of
tears streaming from the eyes of the other at 3 in the morning. We would get
our ears talked off and our hearts sinking when the other needs an episode of
feelings hour. We would find ourselves sweating buckets over the hot stove to
whip up a hearty meal for the other who’s sick and stuck in bed. I could go on
and on with my examples of moments we give and give and not having anything to
take. And that’s fine. That’s love.
Then there will be times that we’ll find ourselves in the
taking end of the spectrum without anything to give. There will be times when
we would need a shoulder to cry on at 3am when the world only keeps a little
light at the end of the street and the only sound you hear is the buzz of the
night. We would sometimes want to talk endlessly about the pent-up feelings we
try so hard to push down but couldn’t and all that’s left for us to do is
erupt. We will find our selves every now and then burning up, curled under the
covers, dripping in snot and sweat, needing a warm and hearty meal to make us
feel a little better. It may seem embarrassing to be taking without anything to
give, but it will be fine, because letting someone give to us is love.
And there will be times when we will feel that all we’re
ever doing is giving. We may find it somewhat exhausting, but we will not
frail. Because the kind of love who gives wholeheartedly is the kind of love
that loves unconditionally.
While some people seek this kind of love from a significant
other, know that this love could also come from a mother, a father, a brother,
a sister, or a friend. This love is the kind of love we should not only rejoice once
a year on the fourteenth day of the second month. This is the kind of love we should give thanks for every moment, reciprocate every minute, celebrate every day,
and cherish for a lifetime. Unconditional love.
