By: Carissa Lovvorn
When my daughters started elementary school, I put a note in their lunchboxes and snack bags each day. It wasn’t much, just a little message of encouragement, a hand-drawn picture, and an “I love you.” Okay, let’s be honest: I started it mainly for me. I was a worried mother who wasn’t ready for her babies to start school. I didn’t want them to forget Mommy during the day, and I couldn’t stand the thought of them feeling alone or scared. I didn’t realize until later how much this meant to them, or how this small gesture would start a tradition in our household.
Recently, I’ve noticed that my husband does the same. Most of the time, it’s still Mommy and Daddy handling this chore, but our daughters are now old enough to pack their own lunches. Sometimes they even take it upon themselves to pack lunch for each other, or when they’re feeling especially excited, they’ll make one for my husband and me. The lunches they make are thoughtful, well planned, and always include a sweet little note. They’ve even shared that they hope to do the same for their own children one day.
Those small notes are simple, but they carry so much meaning. With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, I’m reminded of those little cartoon valentines kids hand out during school—just a cute, cheerful message to let someone know someone cares for them. It was such a nice feeling to get one from the whole class. As adults, we may not trade classroom valentines anymore, but the need to feel seen, remembered, and loved never really goes away.
Sometimes, life can be hard. Grief, depression, and anxiety seem to always be lurking under the surface. On days when I’m feeling low, I’ve learned that a small bit of encouragement from a friend, a family member, or even a stranger can make a real difference. It doesn’t take much, just a kind word or an “I love you” to lift the spirit.
Throughout the Bible, God instructs us to be devoted to and honor one another above ourselves. For example, in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Thessalonica, he wrote, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV). In Hebrews, we are shown that considering one another can inspire love and good deeds: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Whether it be a little handwritten note in a lunch box, a kind word to a friend, or a cute heart-shaped valentine exclaiming, You’re So Totally Awesome!, I encourage everyone to take a moment to build someone up over the next several weeks. You never know, you may accidentally start a tradition that is carried down for generations.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Blessings,
Carissa Lovvorn
