~ Hafiz, Pink Frosting and Valentine’s Day ~

I remember one Valentine’s Day when I was in elementary school. My mom helped me bake big heart shaped sugar cookies for each of my classmates.  Each cookie was hopefully decorated in sloppy pink frosting.   

Each cookie was supposedly bringing a message; “Happy Valentine’s Day. You are special. You are special to me.”
 
But my truer message was “I hope you’ll see me. I hope you’ll like me. I hope I belong”.
“Please love me”
 
In the early 60’s, at my elementary school, Valentine’s Day was a group thing.   Every kid brought some kind of little valentine for each of the other kids in class.  We’d drop flimsy paper valentines into the special bag each kid had at their desk. 

Those cards had cute or sappy messages that usually boiled down to “Please be my Valentine”.  Please Love Me.
 
As you already know, Valentine’s Day is a messy commercialized day, laced with all kinds everythings.  Love it. Hate it. Skip it.

As it comes around again,  I’m reflecting on pink sugar cookies and some of the ways I reach out with the unspoken plea, “Please love me.”
 
I am also feeling what my heart genuinely longs for:  to authentically be one who’s presence, who’s smile, and who’s eyes, say to the world, “I see you. I love you. You belong.”
 
This Hafiz poem inspires me toward that.  Enjoy.
With love,
Sharon