Lenten Valentine’s

David entered the room with a gloomy look.
“Good morning, Dave!” I said. “You don’t look very much like
yourself today, what’s up? Valentine’s didn’t turn out as you expected?”
“Yup, you’re right there, Father.” He shrugged his shoulders and pulled a chair and sat in reverse resting his elbows on the backrest.
“Didn’t you tell me you were going out with Margo?”
“I did ….” He gave the floor a real deep stare like he had x-ray vision peering into some insect underground party of cockroaches, beetles, worms and termites.
“And … ?”
“I couldn’t give her what I wanted to buy in the first place.”
“Let me guess.” I winked. “Roses?”
“Obviously, what else … ?” He showed some sign of relaxing like a circus polar bear coming down from a wobbly bicycle.
“Oh, come on! What could go wrong? ’Sides, gifts are only secondary.”
“I know, Father, but I was saving up for that bouquet of roses for months!”
“Then, why didn’t you buy them?”
“’Coz Dad said they were a bit expensive and maybe I could just buy them after Valentine’s Day when they’re cheaper (sigh)!”
“But that’s not going to be the same,” I reacted.
“Naturally! And I told Dad, but he said I should think it over. ’Sides, he said that Margo and I aren’t really yet into a serious relationship.”
“Right he is there,” I said. “But still, what would flowers mean after Valentine’s. Timing is essential when one wishes to express his appreciation or love for someone.”
“I agree.” He stood up. “Any suggestions, Father?”
“What about buying her roses this Lent?”
“Are you serious?” he laughed. “That would like be giving flowers for a funeral?”
“Of course not, in fact, it’s kinda unique. Everyone gives flowers on Valentine’s. If you give her roses this Lent, it would come out as something extraordinary?”
“You have a point, but don’t you think I would look silly or weird?”
“Why so?”
“’Coz Lent is a dull and unhappy season. I mean … the fasting, abstaining and penance thingy. It’s not like Christmas with all the decorations, greetings, carols and gifts.”
“You’re right, men give a lot of importance to events and celebrations. But imagine that God doesn’t time His blessings?”
“Why so?”
“Because we’re always in need of His grace, and grace is always on time and timely. God always gives us the spiritual help we need without requiring any special reason or occasion for Him to dispense them. His love is reason enough to shower us constantly new graces every day.”
“But how am I supposed to explain to Margo why I’m giving her roses during Lent?”
“I don’t know.”
“Sheesh! Then why are you explaining all this, Father?”
“I’m not offering you an alibi for giving her roses during Lent. I simply wanted to take advantage to help you appreciate Lent through the predicament you’re in.”
“Like how?” He sounded a little impatient.
“Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, right?”
“So?”
“It reminds me of what Benedict XVI once said to  an audience: ‘The penitential sign of the ashes (…) is essentially a gesture of humility, which means: I recognize myself for what I am, a frail creature, made of earth and destined to the earth, but also made in the image of God and destined to him. Dust, yes, but loved, molded by love, animated by his vital breath, capable of recognizing his voice and of responding to him.’”
“So you actually mean I ought to learn humility by giving her flowers this Lent?”
“Maybe, but I didn’t mean that either. I’m trying to point out that there’s more than just giving her the flowers, but it’s why you’re giving her the flowers.”
“Wait! Hold on, can you say that again?”
“It’s not what you give and when you give a gift, but why you’re giving something.”
“And … ?”
“And unexpectedly giving roses on Lent is like God’s love opening another extraordinary space of grace for us to work our conversion.”
“Okay, okay … I get it! But that won’t still explain things to Margo.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you Dave, it wasn’t my intention in the first place.”
“It’s all right, but what should I write on the card.”
“What about Happy Lenten Valentine’s?” I replied.