She handed a mug of steaming black coffee to the man as he came back into the kitchen. He thanked her and took a sip of the strong brew. It was a wel-come drink, and he savored it.”
–James Leonard (Return to Brigand’s Gate)
Come on in this kitchen, Pard. The coffee’s hot, strong, and wonderful as it was my Valentine’s gift from my sweetie. Better than chocolates or a fuzzy bear. Did yuh treat yur gal to something nice? Bring her flowers? Well, Pard, let me tell yuh the truth of the matter. I figure that a day like Valentines is nothing more than the media tryin’ to conjure money outta yur pocket with their consumer mentality. No, Pard, that don’t mean I’m against love and romance, far from it. What I’m a-sayin’ is that it shouldn’t be jes’ one day. We should be treatin’ our wives like that on a constant basis.
Flowers once or twice a year? Why? I made myself a promise many a year back that I’d try to keep flowers on the table for my wife. Why only once or twice? She’s worth it more than that. Now, that don’t mean there’s always flowers there. If’n there’s not it’s ’cause I haven’t been able to get out to get them. But yuh can bet yur britches that there are many days or weeks that I do. I mean the gal is prettier than a flower and smells better than a rose, so I put them on the table for her and to compare. Yep, mush all right, but it’s fun.
See I figure it this a-way. Why make it only one special day, when everyday I spend with my gal is a special day. Chocolates only on special occasions? Ha, or like you Pard when yur tryin’ to get yurself out of trouble. A fuzzy bear? Why, when she’s got me to cuddle? See, Pard, we travel down this ol’ road of life together, so I ought to be gettin’ her these little things on a regular basis. Don’t the Lord show His love to us everyday? I mean sometimes it grandiose, but most of the time He gives us little things as we go through life with Him. Sometimes He jes’ smiles down on us from heaven. Ain’t that enough?
Lots of folks don’t celebrate that day ‘causin’ they don’t have anyone to be with. But the Lord is with them, hmmm, I wonder if’n they ever thought of a Valentine’s Day with the Lord? I was readin’ yesterday an’ this verse came up, “Fill us full every morning with your faithful love so we can rejoice and celebrate our whole life long.” That’s from Psalm 90:14 in this new translation called the CEB. His love, His mercy are fresh and ready for us each and ev’ry mornin’ so we should be travelin’ through this world light.