10 Ways to Bless Everyone You Love on Valentine's Day

If you’re in a relationship, go ahead—mush it up! Write a love letter. But taking time to handwrite a personalized note to anyone in your life is a kind gesture this Valentine's Day. It will make them feel seen and appreciated, and during this time of year especially, that can mean a lot. Stick a note in your child’s lunchbox, drop a letter in your neighbor’s mailbox, or pass your appreciative sentiments to a staff member at your church. Whoever you’re writing to, they’re sure to be blessed. 

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It might be cliché, but giving candy or chocolate on Valentine's Day is a gift almost anyone in your life would appreciate. Think outside the box, beyond your coworkers or teenagers. (Although by all means, give them some too!) What about leaving an edible Valentine for your trashmen? Delivery driver? Crossing guard at your child’s school? It could make their entire day with minimal effort on your part. Think of those who might feel unseen this year and be a blessing. 

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I don’t know about you, but when my kids were younger and they didn’t have their own money yet to buy me birthday or Christmas gifts, they would default to the good ol’ homemade coupon book. How fun would it be to flip the script this Valentine's and make your children one instead? Give them hand-written, hand-drawn coupons for things like One Free Pass for a Messy Room, Good for One Ice Cream Cone, or even a Get Out of Grounding Free card. They’ll love it!

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If you have a child, odds are you’ve made goodie bags for birthday parties. Why not make a Valentine's version? If it’s for kids, fill it with pieces of gum or sour candy, heart-shaped erasers, cherry-scented ChapStick, and fake nail stickers. Or bless your adult coworkers or Sunday school class with goodie bags full of chocolate, red lipstick, nail polish, and pink bath bombs. Dollar stores often have treats like this that can help keep the cost down. Remember, it doesn’t have to be expensive to be a blessing! The thought really does count—especially for those without other Valentines this year.

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This Valentine's Day, why not perform acts of service for someone in need? Maybe a widow in your church needs a shopping buddy, or your next-door neighbor’s yard has become overgrown. Maybe there’s a single mom in your kids’ class who could use a night out and needs a babysitter. Pushing shopping carts, providing company for those otherwise alone, and plucking weeds can be an excellent way to show God’s love to those in your community who need a reminder. Even within your own home, you could clean your child’s room, wash your husband’s truck, or take over a task for a day that would relieve someone’s burden. 

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Novels don’t typically come to mind when brainstorming Valentine's gifts, but Christian fiction can be a wonderful treat for someone on a budget who normally can’t afford many books. Purchase one of your favorites and surprise a friend, or try to find a sneaky way to discover their preferred genre. If someone you know is struggling in the love department, you don’t have to buy a romance—maybe a historical fiction or suspense novel would be more to their liking. Sidebar: You could purchase a book, put it in your local library, and stick an encouraging note inside the pages that speaks of God’s love for the reader. You never know who might find it at just the right moment!

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Baking or cooking a special holiday meal can be a big treat for someone in your life this Valentine's. Go ahead and whip up a batch of cookies to take to the singles in your church, or to your neighbors. Get your kids or teenagers involved in the icing, decorating, and delivery. Or invite a single mom over for a special meal so she’s not alone on the dreaded V-Day. You could also bless your family by making heart-shaped pancakes or something else special to celebrate the day. Get really creative and have a themed dinner night, where everything is food-dyed red and pink! 

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A lot of people want to celebrate Valentine's Day but don’t know how, or who to celebrate it with. So they end up sitting home alone with the remote control and a pint of ice cream. Take the initiative, and be an open door for those without somewhere to go. You can play “Pin the Wings on Cupid” and eat heart-shaped cake while sharing the love of Christ with those in need of emotional support. Last year, my teen daughter hosted a “Galentines” party for all her girlfriends, most of whom were single (and a little bitter about it), and they had an amazing time together! If you don’t have anyone to invite, host a party for your family. Reminding our children and teenagers early on that there are plenty of people in their lives who love them—even when there isn’t a crush nearby—is time well spent.

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There’s nothing more loving than sacrifice—and offering to teach something you’re skilled at as a gift for someone in your life is a big blessing. This Valentine's, why not gift the gift of teaching? Can you write? Paint? Play an instrument? Are you good at planning and organizing? Baking? Knitting? Crocheting? What talent do you have that you could give someone as a unique gift this year? If you aren’t comfortable teaching said skill, then use your skill as a gift. Offer to organize someone’s closet. Paint them a canvas. Write them a poem or song. Crochet them a coaster. These types of gifts come free of charge but are costly in time, which usually proves to be an even bigger blessing than a material present. 

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This type of gift works well for spouses, best friends, or families! If you have a favorite photo from years ago, get together to recreate it and then give everyone in the group a framed copy. Or find out your best friend’s, husband’s, or child’s favorite memory with you, and recreate it to the best of your ability. Maybe it was a shopping excursion, a trip to a local landmark, or playing a specific board game when they were younger. Do it again, and take photos. Making the time to relive a beloved memory together is a gift they’ll never forget!

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