Flowers, chocolate, hearts, and supermarkets flooded with the colors red, white and pink.

That’s what is commonly associated with Valentine’s Day, but for the Element Youth Group, it’s a day to be countercultural, as for the past five years, the holiday has gone hand in hand with demonstrating acts of compassion. Each year, instead of waiting around for that special someone to come knocking on our door, we mobilize and go out into the community to model God’s love.

This year, our gifts of handmade cards and blankets went to the local convalescent homes as our students split into three groups and visited Bellaken Nursing Center, Lakeshore Residential Care, and South Shore Convalescent Hospital. We sang some praise songs, gave a brief message, and then the students spread amongst the residents to mingle and chat with them.

It was beautiful to see radiant smiles on both the faces of the students and the residents, and everyone had a good time this Valentine’s Day as we experienced love in a different, and dare I say better, sense than the traditional definition. Definitely looking forward to it next year.

Did you spend your Valentine’s Day in a God honoring way? Let us know below in the comments section.