Have you noticed the way people tend to stop what they're doing to smile at a baby? A happy child in a restaurant or the mall can create many smiles.

Years ago I heard the story of a tribal woman on an Indonesian island who went into the woods to have her baby. There appeared to be some shame involved, as it was not normal for women in that tribe to give birth alone.

After the baby was born the mother left it on the ground and walked away. The baby cried and cried. The mother walked, hesitated, walked, then abruptly returned for her child.

Seems as though babies have a way of evoking love in us, even when we do not want to love.

And it seems as though we need to love others. Loving seems to bring fulfillment in a way that nothing else can.

What about the grown up "babies" in our lives? At Valentine's Day we celebrate romantic love. And we do need to keep romance alive. But there is more to love than romance.

How do we demonstrate love the rest of the year? Do we get so caught up in the negatives that we forget the value of every human life--even the ones that provoke us?

I am not advocating that we tolerate abuse. Someone said love means doing what is best for the other person. Love involves setting boundaries, limiting how much negative we will take from others. Love needs a "tough" dimension.

What do you do to show your family and friends you love them? Do you say, "I love you" regularly? Do you keep your promises? Do you build trust?

Do you demonstrate love in the way that they best understand love? Someone wrote a book about the five love languages. Each of us perceives love in one or two of those five ways. If I show you love in my "love language," I may not be speaking your "love language." In order to build emotional health in those we love, we need to speak their love language.