While most people think of Valentine’s Day this time of year, it’s Feb. 11 that has been on my mind — that’s the date my mom died of cancer two years ago today.

While I don’t want to celebrate that date for any reason, she would have wanted me to think of it as the day she went home to be with the Lord.

Don’t feel sorry for me or for her for that matter, she would have hated that. What she would have liked was for me is to honor her memory.

A couple of other things have been weighing on my heart lately as well. A friend of mine just heard last week that his Mom has been diagnosed with liver cancer. He and his wife also lost their little girl last year. He said something that really spoke to my heart recently, “Cancer is the only thing I know of that can make you completely selfish and completely compassionate at the exact same time.”

A good friend of mine from college is dying of cancer and she is just a year younger than me. Melissa lived near a plant in High Point that was dumping toxic waste in her backyard and at the tender age of 39, she is has been diagnosed with incurable cancer.

I can’t imagine the pain and anguish she must me going through. The one thing that gives me some comfort is that she has lived more in her 39 years than most people do in a lifetime.

Not long after my dad passed away of a massive heart attack in 2005, my Mom noticed that I seemed to be struggling with his death quite a bit. I will never forget when my Mom handed me a book called, “90 Minutes in Heaven” and said, “never wish your father back.” For that reason, I will never wish her back. She was very close to God and now she is in her heavenly home.

If you have lost someone near and dear to your heart I highly recommend this book. It helped me understand death in a whole new way. I no longer see it as an ending, I see it as a beginning.

I always joke around that now I know I have extra angels, but it’s really no joke. I can feel those who have passed before me working in my life. They will always live in my heart.

So while all of the commercials right now are promoting flowers, chocolate and diamonds — I think a better way to celebrate love is to treasure the relationships in your life and to appreciate every moment you have together.

Mondee Tilley is a staff reporter with The Mount Airy News. She can be reached at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.