Saturday, February 14, 2009

No greater love........


"all men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of the Lord stands forever" I Peter 2:24

To Mr. Z......."Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." Because these words were in our wedding....and because you have always honored them. xxx

For a little political levity (for a change!), our wonderful commenter and column writer Priscilla's sister has a creative and apt line for the new habit of children being encouraged to bring in a Valentine's card for everybody in the class instead of what we used to do in bringing them only for our favorite friends....she calls it "Valentine Socialism" I loved that! Pris and I thought you'd enjoy it, too! Thanks, Pris!

Happy Valentine's Day, everybody!


z

32 comments:

Always On Watch said...

I'm sure you're aware that Moslems despise Valentine's Day. If not, check out my post of this morning.

If certain parts of Europe aren't careful, they will lose this "offensive" holiday as well.

DaBlade said...

When I was a kid, I remember I used to love the decorating of the Valentine's box part. I didn't like the actual valentines (yucky cooties) and I really didn't like those chalky "candies" with the lame slogans on them.

I.H.S. said...

DaBlade, are you kidding those chauky candies are what kept me going through that whole week, ahhh,good times.

Blessings.

Beverly said...

What a lovely post, Z. Have a wonderful day with your Mr. Z.

elmers brother said...

Every day is Valentines Day at my house. Here's hoping love will rule this day and more days to come.

Papa Frank said...

I'm with IHS. I love me some candy hearts!!!

Beautiful words for Mr. Z here, friend!

David Wyatt said...

No, AoW, I was not aware of that. But I just became a bigger fan of the holiday because of it! Thanx!

christian soldier said...

Z-You have a real man in Mr.Z-you are both blessed w/each other..
IHS- I'm w/ you-the 'chalky' candies are still fun!
As to the 'Valentine' for everyone in the class-that started creeping in while I still was teaching in public school-socialism...a little at a time...
Always-you are right-
so-let's all wear RED and buy lots of RED heart 'stuff' :-)
Flowers too!!!

carol-CS

Z said...

I love those hearts, DaBlade...or did! But, they WERE chalky!

Always On Watch: I'm with David; now it's a really important holiday! I had heard this somewhere and will be by later to see your post...

Anonymous said...

Beautiful post, Z.

I like that sentiment, ElBro.

Z said...

CS....it WAS "Creeping socialism...Valentine Socialism."..slowly, slowly...until now we can't have awards ceremonies for teens because someone will feel badly that THEY didn't get an award.

Is this the AMERICAN SPIRIT? The one which taught "If you don't do well enough this time, do better NEXT time?" We also have T ball teams, etc., where there's no scoring...ten minutes and your side's up...no matter what.

This seems to have been a craftily fashioned plan and Conservatives with good values, who understood what America's been about and why we have ACHIEVED so much, were sleeping....sound asleep, hoping it would go away. Like so many are now.

Z said...

Those little chalky hearts DaBlade mentioned got me thinking just now. Remember:

"BE MINE" That was one of the least favorites because, when you're 8, who really has a 'mine', right!? But, it's what God says to us in a million ways, isn't it!? Means a lot more now.!!

Beats Valentine's Socialism!!

Anonymous said...

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone.


Z, what a lovely sentiment for a lovely day.
A special wish for a "lovey" day to you and Mr. Z.


Ah yes, Valentine socialism - another example of taking something that has meaning, and making it meaningless.


I too liked those little chalky hearts. Don't all children? If I remember right, weren't the pink ones wintergreen mint?


AOW, is there anything about the West's traditions that doesn't offend muslims?


Well, enough of that, today is a day to celebrate love and loved ones. What better reason to have a happy day now, and always.

Pris

sue said...

z - nice of you to honor Mr. Z with such beautiful words of love -but consider the Source.

About the valentines, when I was in grade school in the '50's, I don't remember a time when we didn't bring a valentine for everyone. Just the way it was done.

Z said...

Sue, not at our school...we brought for our buddies and I was there when you were there...maybe it depended on the teacher, or the 'creep' had begun back then.
What about the 'Source'?

Pris..thanks...same to you and Mr. Pris!! xxx

Anonymous said...

"Faith,Hope and Love abide; the Greatest of these is Love''. Happy Valentines Day everyone. Johnnymac.

Bloviating Zeppelin said...

Happy Valentine's Day to the Z's from Mr & Mrs BZ!

BZ

Anonymous said...

Z, my sister was in grade school when you and Sue were. She also brought valentines only for her friends.

My children went to grade school in the sixties, and my son and daughter didn't have to take them for everyone either.

Sue, where did you attend school?


Hi, J'Mac, Happy Valentine's Day to you.

Pris

sue said...

z - By the Source I was refering to the Bible - the quote on Love.

Again, I have no memory of anything creeping in on V-tine's day. We always brought them for everyone in the class. I checked with Mr. Sue and he agreed.

Z said...

Sue..right, I did forget the scripture 'address'..

for anyone desirous of that LOVE CHAPTER info, it's: I Corinthians 13. Check it out! xxx

Oh, and we shopped this morning after breakfast out and I DID buy myself dark chocolate (it's supposed to good for the heart..with the amount I just ate, I should be able to run 4 marathons tomorrow!! )

sue said...

pris - I attended school in Northeastern Indiana.

This whole thing is new to me and quite frankly amazes me. It makes good sense to me that we would have brought a valentine for each member of the class. If we had only brought for our friends, what if some kids didn't get any. That would be sad.

Z said...

But SUE! That teaches disappointment which creates better, stronger character! and it teaches us to be a better friend, enough to deserve one next time...and it teaches a child who didn't bring one for the other to go over and say "you look sad..I'm sorry, here's one someone gave to me...from me to you!"

SO many good lessons instead of "Here, everybody...have a card! YOU ALL DESERVE IT!"

What a FASCINATING discussion..I hope you started something wonderful here...let's talk about this.

Sue, do you think it's not a good idea to have awards ceremonies because it makes some feel badly? That is a point I SO understand, but do our children learn to want to improve if they don't see others who DID succeed?

Anonymous said...

My eight year old told me, "Mommy, I don't want to give one to this boy, he's so mean to me."

I didn't know what to say. I knew the policy was to give one to each kid, so I encouraged her to just follow the rule and give him one, that it didn't mean she had a crush on him, or anything personal. It felt very phoney...and it was.

I didn't like sending that message.

When I was in grade school, we weren't obligated to give everyone a card. Some got more than others.

Z said...

Oh, my gosh, Pinky...I forgot counting the cards and seeing others had more or less than I did...

YUCK! But, a VERY good thing...taught you to be a man!

Ya, terrible message there from the teacher; very egalitarian, very vanilla..

sue said...

How do award ceremonies enter in all of this. I thought the discussion was about valentines - a gesture of love. I see only frustration and hatred.

Z said...

Hatred? Where, Sue?

Frustration, yes! We're likening the kind of 'everybody gets a Valentine' to 'nobody is special or talented enough to be allowed to score a point or win an award'..Most of us find that frustrating for America..our cutting edge is getting duller and duller! Character building is something we should be doing in our children.

Teaching them to be sensitive and kind but teaching them disappointment and, the flip side, great pride in their accomplishments!

Average American said...

I just gave them out to all the girls. In a box of 21(?) some were much nicer than others of course. I would sit at home the night before and lay them all out to decide who got which one. The uglier girls of course got the uglier cards. Sorry if this pissed anybody off, but that was the way it worked here back in the 50's.

P.S. I usually got some really nice cards----but not always.

sue said...

z - You said it one post that you didn't hate Obama. I can't see the difference between hating someone and talking about them in the terms that is done on the blog.

When I talked about George Bush in the terms that I did (while he was in office) I knew inside that the hatred was there. And there is much more of it here than I ever said.

Z said...

Regarding Obama, Sue? OH, ya...I do not like him in the biggest way possible, probably. Oh, sure. 'hate'? I hate to go there, but probably...especially today.. especially when he gave the finger twice on videos to Hillary and McCain ; I hated our country will be represented by someone that immature and hateful.

On this post, no...I didn't see hate used here in these comments; that's why I asked you. I just quickly skimmed again; no hate obama here on this post.

My husband's piece shows a lot of disdain and anger; how can it not? He's an 'adopted' America...he CHOSE to live here. We love it because we were lucky enough to be born here...he came here because he CHOSE it.loved it..and now he sees a downhill skid he never anticipated any more than most Americans did.
Sort of like the Canadian electrician I wrote about 2 weeks ago...so sad!! He came here to the USA with big dreams of having a growing business.. and now has to say "I came here to get AWAY from Socialism..and look what's happening now! And, you Americans should never believe what you hear in your media abuot the good Canadian healthcare..it's a disaster!" Ya. He hates Obama, no doubt about it. And he's in a Heavy metal band, he's not what the media would paint a Republican as, that's for sure.

Yes, we feel terrible that liberal teachers have done what's being talked about here....taking away inducement for SUCCESS! But, that's what Mr. Obama's doing now, also.."The rich are all evil, we have to put caps on executive pay, we have to stop giving the rich any breaks, they HAVE TO give to the poor, like it or not" That's not right, Sue...

We give because we want to...and we DO. This is socialism now. Pure and simple.
Do I hate that? YOU BET.

This is a blog about Valentine's today....And the stimulus package has passed. That's VERY VERY hard to get past. As a matter of fact, I wasn't going to say this, but while cooking dinner tonight, I burst into tears..and that's not like me. Just for a few minutes, I let it all out.. then stopped. Mr. Z doesn't know that till he reads this, either. I am devastated. Hate...ya.

Z said...

By the way...hate is such a negative, evil emotion, I'd have to say that, deep down, some's probably there..but I have a great peace..."that surpasses all understanding" So that crying jag surprised me.

I'm working on remembering that God is in control. Because I know He is. That helps 1000%

Anonymous said...

I went to grade school in three different states;
Kansas, Florida, South Carolina, and during the 1960's.

As I recall, we were encouraged to make little mail boxes, all decorated, which I liked doing.

I did not care about getting or giving the cards, but we were encouraged to bring enough cards for everyone.

However, we were also told we did not have to participate either.

I mean, in no way would I give friendship sentiments to boys in those days....eeeewwww.

WVDOTTR

Anonymous said...

This will be my last word on this.

Sue, can't you see if everyone has to get a card, then the whole thing is meaningless?

An example: My grandson, 5 years old, in kindergarten brought home a paper with a sticker on it that said: "Terrific work". When I complimented him he said, "it doesn't mean anything, everyone got one".

Don't you see? Having to bring everyone a card, makes the whole exercise meaningless. If a five year old "get's it" why bother?

Buy a package of valentines and keep the thing. He ends up with a boatload of worthless valentines, just like he would if he took them to school and gave one to, and received one from, every child.

Pris