Valentine's elf - Cambodia style

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that I have a Valentine's Day tradition. What's that? I like to make women feel special on Valentine's Day. This marketing driven holiday makes women feel bad about themselves - those who are single feel lonely, those who are in relationship rarely get the celebration of their beauty that they were hoping for. I hate that, it shouldn't be that way. That's when I transformed myself in to the Valentine's Elf.

It is usually just an all around disappointing holiday. So, I made my own tradition. I used to deliver flowers to single ladies and new moms when I lived in KC. One of the single ladies who used to be a regular recipient of my Valentine elf deliveries wrote me an email last week:

it's almost Valentine's Day...missing you and your roses!! :)

It's been three years since I've been able to deliver flowers to her, but she still remembers the joy it brought. Though I would love to, it's a little hard to keep this tradition alive in KC when I live on the other side of the world...mostly because I have a limited bank account. Otherwise I would order flowers to be delivered all over the place - to the widow I used to make deliveries to, or the single mother of twin girls, or all of the others who were a regular stop on my annual delivery list. Ladies, I may not be there, but I still think you are amazing and wish I could see the smile on your face when I arrive with my single rose bought especially for you.

Because I like the Valentine's elf tradition so much, I have decided to continue it Cambodia style. Last week I visited with some AIDS orphans. These were a group of about 10 girls whose parents have died. These girls are now responsible for their siblings and trying to support them as best as they can, being so young themselves. They call this terrible situation a child headed household. Well, these girls make greeting cards. One of the girls proudly showed me a card that she designed, it has a beaded flower bouquet on the front. It was the most expensive card in their collection because it takes a lot of time and materials. It is beautiful. I promptly bought five. The recipients of these cards are the single ladies in my cell group. Inside, I wrote an individual note to each describing their beauty as I see it.

It's a little twist on the theme, but I like the variation. As always, ladies, know that you are special. Each of you have a unique beauty to offer the world, even if no one acknowledges it on Valentine's Day.