For many people, Valentine’s Day comes with a lot of expectations and pressure. For others, it’s a dreaded day where we try to distract ourselves from the pervading sense of loneliness.

All in all, Valentine’s Day doesn’t seem to be working well. So why don’t we try a new approach to this national holiday?

Instead of worrying about who will shower us with love, what gifts we’ll give, and what we’ll receive, let’s love people where they are. Let’s love the people who are around us, whoever they may be and no matter our relationship to them. Even if the only person we see all day is a gas station attendant, let’s love that person.

One of my favorite passages from Donald Miller’s book, Blue Like Jazz explains why loving people where they are is so crucial.

“…to be in a relationship with God is to be loved purely and furiously. So a person who thinks himself unlovable cannot be in a relationship with God because he can’t accept who God is- a Being that is Love. We learn that we are lovable or unlovable from other people…that is why God tells us so many times to love each other.” – Donald Miller

Spread love.