I was spared the humiliation. The empty Valentine box.
The tradition of exchanging those little paper messages was forbidden at my Catholic elementary school.
If youthful expressions of love happened back then, they had to be done in secret.
That was okay by me. I knew my place in my class. I was not the heartthrob, I was the competition. Academics saved me.
Years later, I would buy those packages of 20-30 Valentine cards for my kids. By then, teachers would insist that every student receive a card, if the exchange was to happen at all.
It became a craft project and a lesson in kindness.
From his Facebook page.
A wise move on their part.
This past Friday, 17 year old Hayden Godfrey presented a carnation to all of the 900 girls in his Salt Lake City high school.
He worked 3 different jobs to earn the $450. for flowers he purchased on the internet.
In his words…
“I don’t think anything can compare to seeing every girl in your life holding a flower as they walk through the halls.”
Godfrey, a senior, has a girlfriend of 6 months, plans to work a few years before going to college.
A young man with the brightest of futures.
vanbytheriver 
Oh my that is the sweetest! Thanks for telling us! xx
There are good news stories out there, Lynn. Proud to share. 💖
Yes that is always lovely and helps brighten our days! thanks
Interesting note…I was composing a piece about the Columbine shooter’s mother this weekend…a very tragic and different teenager story. We need to highlight more like this. Thanks.
Yes that is so true!!
Uplifted my spirits this morning my dear deer friend and brought me joy …thank you from my heart van ….love , megxxx
My pleasure, Meg. It’s nice to highlight the sweet stories. 💕
What a wonderful gesture!
He is a special young man. ☺ Thanks, Tonya. Glad you agree.
What a wonderful thing to do. I am beyond impressed with this young man’s thoughtfulness 🙂
There are still folks like this in the world, Judy. It is heartwarming. 💘
It really is. 🙂
Such a kind young man. 💙💜💛💚
For sure, Julie. Funny thing, I was going to write about all the guys I saw yesterday at 4 pm at the Hallmark counter, trying to save the day. When I saw this story, changed plans. 💘
Saw the news about him and I was going to blog about him too. Glad you did and you did it so well too! Great minds…
Funny on the great minds, Deb. It made such an impression on me. ☺ Thanks.
That’s very thoughtful and selfless of him to put in all his working hours, earn money and spend it to put a smile on a girl’s face. Mine is smiling 🙂
So is mine, Jacqueline. 💝
Oh my, is that lovely! Such a beautiful heart! Over here Valentine’s Day is not that big and not recognized at all in schools.
It’s mostly a commercial holiday any more, Erika. Or a source of pressure for loved ones to prove something. ☺
But I think it is lovely too! It is not the day that might failed the purpose but how the people celebrate it. 💖
True enough, Erika. 💝
😘 💖
Such a wonderful story of thoughtful kindness…
It really is, Charlie. Thanks. ☺
Talk about thoughtful and far too little of that exist in this world.
That’s so true. And it doesn’t often get the attention it deserves when it does happen, Paul. ☺
No it sure doesn’t. The news always tells us that all their data suggest people don’t watch news for these kind of stories. I say poppycock. 😀
Or maybe even…bullshit. ☺
Well, that too. That’s even more colorful. 😀
❣️
What a thoughtful and diligent young man. I detest Valentine’s Day for many reasons (one of which is that, now we live in the US, my kids have to participate in these daft exchanges too) but this at least was a cheering story.
I didn’t realize that had to participate. Back in the day, the rule was that if you wanted to, you had to involve the whole class, but the kids could opt out…mostly if they didn’t want to have the expense. ☺
The rule here is that you have to give one to everyone if you are giving at all. Exchanging is not compulsory but there is a lot of peer pressure. Many of the parents go way over the top with the things they gift too but my kids just give a token thing. Last year they each gave a pencil – so at least it was useful – and this year I had them give fruit snacks. Among all that candy, I must have been the parent all the kids were cursing. I refused to do the cards because it is a waste of paper. Environmental carnage. Even doing my minimalist version was a chunk of change so I can only imagine what some of the parents were spending. The three younger kids all had valentines parties too and I had to make
Van, thanks for the good news story! One to remember with all the commerialization of Valentine’s Day! Yep, a bright future for that young man! 💛 Elizabeth
Thanks, Elizabeth. Glad you enjoyed it. We have commercialized just about every holiday. This one…no different. 💘
The most wonderful thing is he did that with his own money! Wish him a great future… 🙂
Thanks for sharing the story… 🙂
My pleasure. Thanks for reading. ❤️
He is adorable!! Lovely share Van!
Thanks, Val. 💕
This is so heartwarming. Some kids just stun me with their kindness and wisdom. Thanks for sharing this.
I have found this to be so true in the young folks I’ve known. We don’t honor them enough with our attention, D. Thanks. 💝
What a lovely story! Thanks for sharing this. xoxo
My pleasure, Kelly. It was a good one. ❤️
A beautiful act of kindness for such a young man.
It was for sure. Thanks, Sistah. ☺
What an absolutely wonderful story!
Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed it. ❤️