It was Valentine’s Day and Joey was busy making valentines for everyone in his class. His mother was happy to see her little boy so joyful, but she was worried that the other children would not remember to give a valentine to Joey. You see, Joey was a little slower than the rest of the kids, and he was often forgotten and not given much value by them. That did not seem to stop him, though, in getting into the spirit of Valentine’s Day. Joey was determined not to forget even one child.
Valentine’s Day arrived and his mother waited worriedly as the time neared when Joey would be coming home. To lessen his disappointment, if no one gave him a valentine, she had baked his favorite cookies.
As she looked out the window with her cookies in hand, she saw Joey turn the corner. He was saying something to himself, but she could not make it out. As he got closer, she could see that he had a smile on his face. As he walked into the kitchen she heard him say with glee, “I didn’t miss a one, Mom, I didn’t miss a one!”
She then realized that he didn’t have any valentines in his hands. None had been given him. His joy was not in receiving a valentine, it was in giving them away. Joey had made sure that every child was remembered. He didn’t “miss a one.” That was what brought him joy.
Luke 6:34-35 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.