Three Free Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

Valentine's Day is just two weeks away, and I'm on a hunt to find ways to show love. Like most people, our home economy is tight. Gift buying doesn't fit into our budget at the moment, so expressions of love will have to be free.Here's some ways I've found to show sincere love—loving deeply from the heart (1 Peter 1:22).

Time

We live in a very fast paced culture. Many of us are workaholics. *scrunches face and looks guilty*Giving the gift of your time to listen, laugh, and just "be" with someone is a gift that leaves warm memories in anyone's mental scrapbook.I remember wonderful afternoons of playing cards with my grandmother, fishing with my dad, hiking with my mom, and long, evening walks with my husband. These are the gifts of time I've received from people who have loved me and invested their time as a means to show that love.Challenge: Purposefully set aside some time to do something special with someone you love. Make it cost effective by spending time, not money.

Thoughtfulness

It doesn't cost much to show kindness to someone. It usually happens in the midst of doing something else— smile for a downcast face, a kind word shared with a friend, or a task completed for someone overwhelmed. Thoughtfulness = giving extra thought on how to best show kindness to an individual.Challenge: Give the gift of thoughtfulness this Valentines Day.

Prayer

I know how special I feel when folks tell me they are praying specifically for me—especially when they share a Scripture promise that has inspired their prayer. How can you pray for someone in such a way that makes him or her feel loved and valued? Can you write your prayer on a card or send it by email? Can you put a prayer in a fortune cookie or in a bottle and give it to the person?Challenge: Be creative and get prayin'!Now it's your turn: What is your favorite way to show love without spending money? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Susan Gaddis, Helping you build a spiritual legacy