A Valentine for Our Amazing Moms

Written by our Founder and CEO, the Celebrations Pulse letters aim to engage with our community. By welcoming your ideas and sharing your stories, we want to help you strengthen your relationships with the most important people in your life.

Valentine’s Day is no longer limited to just 24 hours on the calendar. It’s a monthlong opportunity to recognize and celebrate all the love in your life.

Traditionally, Valentine’s has been a day filled with meaningful rituals for romantic partners, who strengthen their relationships by sending flowers or chocolates, having a dinner date – either out or at home – and whispering heartfelt messages to each other.

Back when I was in school, my classmates and I exchanged simple valentines on Feb. 14. When we got home, Mom always gave us a hug – and a box of chocolates. The celebration never spilled beyond a single day.

But now, more and more Valentine’s “Day” flowers are being sent well before Feb. 14, with messages like, “I couldn’t wait to tell you how much I love you.” And those romantic dinners? They’re spread throughout the month to avoid crowded restaurants and babysitter schedules.

Something else has happened, too: Valentine’s has evolved into a cultural phenomenon, offering everyone an opportunity to express affection, make lasting memories, and celebrate the enduring power of all types of love.

And that includes the first love of our lives – our moms.

Honoring the love of Amazing Moms

In last week’s Celebrations Pulse, I asked for your stories of Amazing Moms. Most of the responses were from grateful children who will be celebrating their moms on Valentine’s. A few came from parents who recognized the Amazing Moms their children turned out to be.

Nancy wrote to me about her 96-year-old mom, whom Nancy called her North Star. Her mom opened their home to all those in need of a helping hand, and, according to Nancy, never said no to anyone.

“I want to wish a Happy Valentine’s Day to my mom who provided such a warm and welcoming home not only for her children and our dad, but also for foreign exchange students, a foster child, and cousins, uncles, and our friends who lived with us at different times. To all of those she touched, she remains an inspiration.”

Another community member, Genevieve, shared that she won’t be celebrating Valentine’s in person with her Amazing Mom this year because they live so far apart. Her mom, who is 96, also suffers from Alzheimer’s.

“It would be my greatest delight to spend Valentine’s Day with her or even see her respond to flowers. She loved gardening and her flower gardens were the delight of family and friends. Her home was one of hospitality and she delighted in sharing with other children and entertaining missionaries. I will always cherish her love for the Lord and my memories of her devotion to her five children and our amazing dad.”

I also heard from Sharon, who reached out to me on her mom’s 80th birthday. Sharon’s mom was a much-beloved teacher, so much so that her students called her “mom.” And while Sharon was initially jealous of having to share her mother with others, she realized that at the end of each day, she was lucky to have her mom at home.

Sharon and her brother plan to celebrate their mom, and be with her, on Valentine’s Day.

Mom was an elementary school teacher before my brother and I were born, and when we were born and old enough to go to school, she began volunteering at the school, eventually becoming a favorite substitute teacher. The kids loved having my mom and would run up to her at the local mall screaming, "Mom! Mom!" I became a teacher too, and I try to love my students the way Mom did years ago. My brother and I live in the same town as our parents, since we didn’t want to be far away from them, and every weekend, we gather together, and my mom is always there for us.

Remembering an Amazing Mom

I received a wonderful note from Lisa who spoke about her Amazing Mom, Betty, who tragically died during the pandemic. Lisa plans to celebrate her on Valentine’s Day by placing a big heart of red roses at her final resting place.

My mom was amazing, and since she has been gone, life has not been the same. I would not be the woman that I am today if it had not been for her. “We never realize how fortunate we are to have our moms until they are no longer by our sides. I am grateful for her, and for all that she did for me. I hope and pray that each of you who still have your mom by your side physically will celebrate her and bring cheer to her on Valentine’s Day.

I salute all moms out there who always find a way to get the job done and make things happen. Their work and determination stem from their love for their children, and it’s that type of love that should also be acknowledged during Valentine’s.

All the best, Jim