One year in elementary school, we made big envelopes from construction paper, decorated them, and put our names on them in preparation for the Valentine cards our classmates would give us. Most of the cards were store-bought, but some were handmade. I enjoyed seeing the different greetings I had received.
Many Americans spend about $252 on Valentine’s Day, though adults between the ages of 35 and 44 often spend over $300! According to the National Retail Federation, that includes candy, flowers, greeting cards, an evening out, and jewelry. This past Saturday was about romantic love.
According to an article that appeared in Psychology Today*, the Greeks had 7 types of love including philia (the kind friends have for each other), storge (familial love), and agape love (a love that is similar to modern altruism). Agape love includes selflessness, sacrifice, and unconditional care for others.
Dignity:Liberia’s supporters demonstrate love with each donation they make. The medical team at Hope House cares deeply for the welfare of pregnant women and teenage girls, working tirelessly to educate them and encourage them to get prenatal care and give birth in a clinical setting. Yes, they are paid, but their dedication to the efforts to provide safe deliveries and to eliminate fistula goes beyond a paycheck. Certainly Dignity Advocates and others who travel to Liberia sacrifice time, money, and comfort (airlines don’t allow a lot of leg room and Liberia’s heat and humidity can be a bit draining). On both sides of the Atlantic, we care for each other as brothers and sisters.
I end phone calls with some of my friends and family by saying, “Love you!” I will also end this month’s blog by saying to each of you, “Love you!”
*Neel Burton, M.A., M.D., (2025, November 16), Did the Greeks Really Have 7 or 8 Words for Love?, Psychology Today
Many Americans spend about $252 on Valentine’s Day, though adults between the ages of 35 and 44 often spend over $300! According to the National Retail Federation, that includes candy, flowers, greeting cards, an evening out, and jewelry. This past Saturday was about romantic love.
According to an article that appeared in Psychology Today*, the Greeks had 7 types of love including philia (the kind friends have for each other), storge (familial love), and agape love (a love that is similar to modern altruism). Agape love includes selflessness, sacrifice, and unconditional care for others.
Dignity:Liberia’s supporters demonstrate love with each donation they make. The medical team at Hope House cares deeply for the welfare of pregnant women and teenage girls, working tirelessly to educate them and encourage them to get prenatal care and give birth in a clinical setting. Yes, they are paid, but their dedication to the efforts to provide safe deliveries and to eliminate fistula goes beyond a paycheck. Certainly Dignity Advocates and others who travel to Liberia sacrifice time, money, and comfort (airlines don’t allow a lot of leg room and Liberia’s heat and humidity can be a bit draining). On both sides of the Atlantic, we care for each other as brothers and sisters.
I end phone calls with some of my friends and family by saying, “Love you!” I will also end this month’s blog by saying to each of you, “Love you!”
*Neel Burton, M.A., M.D., (2025, November 16), Did the Greeks Really Have 7 or 8 Words for Love?, Psychology Today
 | Kathy Beth Stavinoha Kathy Beth graduated from high school in Monrovia, Liberia in 1977. She retired from St. Edward’s University in 2022 after 21+ years of service. She lives in Brenham, TX with her husband and cat. |
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