A Valentine's Diamond: How Giving More is a Lesson in Love

This week, Ana gets a lesson on love and giving over a moment of sharing with her daughter.

As I was getting ready for work one morning, my daughter asked me where her diamond ring was. Following a day of arts and crafts with her dad, I assumed she was referring to the pipe cleaner rings they had just made. Well, you know what happens when you assume. “Like your ring, mom!”,as she pointed to my wedding ring. “Where’s my diamond ring?’

This was one of my significant moments as a mom. Pride because my baby girl know knew what a diamond was (ugh, hello!!!). And.

It also made me cringe slightly anticipating her expectation for a diamond ring and how she would start to ask me to borrow mine every now and again. First, it was my food, then my scarves, and slippers, and now my jewelry. When will the taking end?

Ironically, as these feelings were stirred by a symbol of love, my engagement and wedding ring, I started thinking of what we do for love. What we offer, exchange, sacrifice, compromise, receive, give, and share. Some of these actions are very challenging for me, especially sharing (I’m an only child). As a parent and wife, love is also about protecting, being responsible, leading, and letting go.

For those who celebrate Lent, this is the time when people sacrifice something in their lives to remember what is truly important, to separate life’s necessities from the indulgences. I always take this time as an opportunity to look at my life through this lens, especially since it changed my life four years ago when I gave up smoking. This year, my focus has been drawn not to giving up, but giving more. How can we show our love more to those in our lives?

So as my daughter looked at me and asked for her ring, I saw an opportunity to share with her something that I love dearly. Instead of taking it away, I taught her that I could share what I value most and trust her with a treasure. “One day you’ll have your own, but until then I can let you hold mine.”

For a basic understanding of what love is, check out this TED video.

Want to renew your vows or take some selfies in a kaleidoscope of love, check out the sculpture in Times Square?

How will you show someone your love? Share it below!