Just not enough time
Normally, I really hate Valentine's Day. I had spent too much of my time as a youth and in my college years feeling sorry for myself that I didn't have a "valentine." (What a waste of time.) I wasn't able to be here last year for our first Valentine's Day of Compassion because I was away on a business trip. So I was really thankful to be able to go this year to the Salvation Army Homeless Shelter. I met a woman there who was a mother of 2 and who shared a good part of her life story with me in less than 15 minutes. I hadn't wanted to make her feel uncomfortable by asking her any questions that were too personal. But she shared a lot anyway. I learned that she had had a hard life, moving to the Bay Area from Southern Cal when she was just 16 and basically took care of herself. I learned that when she was in her 20s, she got involved with some bad people and into some bad situations. I learned that she was in recovery now and had been clean for 9 months now. Through all that she shared, I saw what a hard road she had followed and how much she was in need of love and care and honestly, just some kindness in her life. She seemed so happy that our group was there, dancing with a little oomph to her step when we danced to a few Joyland songs. And was just as excited about the cupcakes as her kids were. I wished that I could have kept talking to her, finding out more about her and being able to have the time to develop a real relationship with her. I met several other people and couples with young children at the shelter and with all of them, I could only think one thing "just not enough time." I wanted to spend more time with them and wanted to really know them and be able to serve them. Near the end of my time with this woman, she told me that this was the best Valentine's Day she ever had. I told her, actually, this was the best one for me too.