A Different Valentine's Day!

Valentine’s Day!

A special day to tell your loved ones how much you love them!

You might express this love by giving roses, chocolates and beautiful cards…

You might go to dinner…or do something special with that loved one!

I love all of these ideas!

But this year…I did something different on Valentine’s Day!

On this Valentine’s Day, I signed up to donate blood!

It’s not my favorite thing to do!

I tend to be a little anemic, so there have been a few times when I was unable to give!

But the employees from Red Cross don’t give up easily!

If my count is not high enough after the first finger prick…they always suggest…”Let’s trying pricking a finger on your other hand!”

“Seriously…do you really believe that will make a difference”…as I gaze down at my one bandaged finger!

They always smile…and say…”Well, let’s give it a try”!!

So, I gingerly lift up my other hand for the second prick!

And I am always amazed…My count is often higher after the second prick!

The Red Cross employee will smile and say…”It worked…let’s get you all set up to give”!

As I settle on the gurney…I look around…trying not to think about the next needle that will be used!

And then I hear their words….”Squeeze the ball three times…and then hold”!

And before you know it, the needle is in…and the bag begins to fill with my blood.

I look around and notice others who are walking through the same process.

Some younger…

Some older…

They are also there to give blood to help others who might need it in the future!

On this Valentine’s Day, I finished giving without incident!

However, it was a little more trying the last time I gave blood!

Apparently, my blood quit flowing after filling my bag…

But…before they could fill the tubes of blood that they needed!

The Red Cross employee moved the needle around in my arm…and struggled to get my blood flowing again!

She told me to sit tight…and went to get help!

Another Red Cross employee came back and also tried moving the needle around in my arm…again, with no luck!

At this point…I was quite ready to quit and let them know that I had already given enough that day!

But much to my dismay, the Red Cross team decided that they would remove this needle and insert a new needle into my other arm!

Throughout this entire process, they kept asking me if I was ok….

I would smile and say yes…but honestly, I was thinking…isn’t the bag of blood enough? 

Do you really need me to fill the additional tubes of blood??

After several attempts, the tubes were finally filled!

They cleaned my arm…placed a bandage on the puncture…and sent me on my way!

By that evening, the area around the puncture was all bruised and a little tender!

And then I wondered…why do I do this?

Why do I put myself through this ordeal?

Why?

Because there is a need for people to donate blood!

And the pint of blood might save a life one day!

And I am reminded of that One that shed His blood…died on the cross…for me…for all of us!

And the minor bruise that I received from giving blood doesn’t begin to compare to Jesus’ death on the cross.

God’s word tells us…

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face…John 19:1-3

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed….1 Peter 2:24

As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—Isaiah 52:14

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—Romans 3:25

Jesus died on the cross and took the sins of the world upon Himself.

Because HE loves us!

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life…John 3:16

Eternal Life…isn’t that the best gift ever!

And it is one that we can receive any day of the year...praise God!

Dear Heavenly Father…thank you that we get to spend Valentine’s Day with family, friends and loved ones!  Thank you for the opportunity to share our love with others…but more importantly…thank you for the love You have for each of us!

PS…I did get to do more on Valentine’s Day than just give blood….though my husband was out of town…he sent me a beautiful card and bracelet!

And I spent a little time with these cuties at different times and shared Valentine’s Day gifts/treats with them!

Best Valentine’s Day ever!