Commerce has basically set the shape of a heart as the symbol for this month when people shower their loved ones with tokens of appreciation demonstrating or in some cases declaring their love. They do so with roses, chocolates, affectionate gifts, and cards.
Showing love to someone sparks an emotion within both the giver and the recipient. I would like to take this space to remind us all (myself included) a couple of things – 1.
LOVE
should be demonstrated ALL YEAR LONG, not just in February - 2.
LOVE
can be demonstrated with ACTION and ATTENTION – gifts and cards are not always required.
CHILDREN learn from adults and when they are shown love, affection, and attention they feel the emotion of LOVE and also are motivated to thrive. Children in the foster care system sometimes lack attention because everyone who works within the system is concerned and overwhelmed with meeting the child’s basic needs i.e., FOOD, WATER, SHELTER, CLOTHING. But we often leave
LOVE
and ATTENTION out of the equation because those are not considered a “basic” need, at least not according to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.