In a long-distance relationship, Valentine’s Day can be a glaring reminder of just how far away your boyfriend is.
While everyone around you is celebrating togetherness or praising singleness, it’s disheartening to know that you don’t quite fit into either category. Perhaps a better name for February 14th is “Distance Awareness Day.”
How do you survive Valentine’s Day when you’re apart, then? Here are four quick tips to help you get through the day.
1. Pray for perspective.
It’s okay to feel sad. Spending Valentine’s Day apart is hard. You might scold yourself for letting a mere cultural event influence your emotions, but the reality is that you live in that culture, and it’s going to affect you.
At the same time, pray for perspective. Valentine’s Day is just one day of the year. The best relationships don’t depend on romance and rose bouquets. Rather, they are strengthened year-round through Christ-centered friendship, selfless love, and commitment.
2. Schedule an official “date.”
If you’re both available on Valentine’s Day, take time to schedule a video call date that’s different in some way than your other calls.
You might dress up, read Shakespeare, or play online games together. If you want ideas, I’ve pulled together a list of 10 romantic date ideas you can have together via video call.
Whatever you choose to do, embrace the chance to have a non-traditional Valentine’s Day and form unique memories as a couple.
3. Hang out with single friends
One of the blessings of a long-distance relationship is that you can relate to both single friends and friends in a relationship. But on Valentine’s Day, you can probably relate a little more to your single friends.
If you have time, you can plan a Galentine’s Day dinner and invite your female friends, small group members, or co-workers. The party doesn’t need to be fancy to serve as an opportunity to display that the deepest love is God’s love.
4. Find strength in Christ
“The secret of being content” on Valentine’s Day is finding your strength in Christ (Philippians 4:12-13). On February 14th or any day of the year, Jesus’s saving love is far more satisfying than the sweetest earthly love.
So when the distance between you and your boyfriend makes you want to weep, cling to the reality of God’s presence with you. Let his words of affection in the Bible overwhelm and comfort you.
“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)
