Within the Spirit of Valentines

“The Valentine”

by Ruth McDonald

I thought I would share this old poignant story by Ruth McDonald, which fits within the act of kindness.  An old story which certainly fits as we approach Valentines Day.  There are magnificent connections within life.  The of mother and son symbolizes the power within love.

He was a shy little boy not very popular with the other children in Grade One.  As Valentine’s Day approached, his mother was delighted when he asked here one evening to sit down and write the names of all the children in his class so that he could make a Valentine for each.  Slowly he remembered each name aloud, and his mother recorded them on a piece of paper.  He worried endlessly for fear he would forget someone.  Armed with a book of Valentines to cut out, with scissors and crayons and paste, he plodded his conscientious way down the list.  When each on was finished, his mother printed the name on a pieced of paper and watched him laboriously copy it.  As the pile of finished Valentines grew, so did his satisfaction.  About this time, his mother began to worry whether the other children would make Valentines for him He hurried home so fast each afternoon to get on with his task, that it seemed to likely the other children playing along the street would forget his existence altogether.  How absolutely horrible if he went off to the party armed with 37 tokens of love – and no one had remember him!  She wondered if there was some way she could sneak a few valentines among those he was making so that he would be sure of receiving at least a few.  But he watched his hoard so jealously and counted them over so lovingly that there was no chance to slip in and extra.  She assumed a mother’s most normal role, that of patiently waiting and hoping for the best.  The day the Valentine box finally arrived, she watch her young son trudge of down the snowy street, a box of heart shaped cookies in one arm, and a shopping bag clutched in the other with 37 neat tokens of his labor.  She watched him with a burning heart.  “Please, God,” she prayed, “let my son get a few!”  All afternoon her hands where busy here and there, but her heart was at the school.  At half past three, she occupied herself knitting with a most studied eye in her chair that gave a full view of the street.  She was waiting to see her young boy walking home.  Finally, he appeared, her heart sank.  Up the street he came, turning every once in a while to back up a few steps into the wind.  She strained here eyes – just to see his face.  From the distance all she could see was just a rosy blur. 

It was not until he turned in at the walk she saw it ----the one lone Valentines clutched in his little mitts.  Only one, after all his work.  She thought that more than probable that one Valentines was from the teacher.  If only you could stand between your child and life!  She laid down her work and walk to meet him at the door.  And then she said, “What rosy cheeks!” while she nervously was containing herself, she said, “Here let me untie you scarf.  “Were the cookies good?” 

Her son, suddenly turned towards here with a completely happy, fulfilled - shining face with a wide smile and said to her amazement, "you know what?", "I didn’t forget one. Not a single one!" 

 

The boy was more pleased within what he had given than what he received.  The mother was miffed with the fact that he gained more pleasure within the giving that getting.  After a few minutes, the mother realized that it was not important how many he received, rather he found more pleasure within the giving. 

Nothing could surpass that feeling for him as he was not concerned in what he got but more so in what he was successful in giving.  The reciprocating effect was that of an elated son and happily relieved mother.