Ash Valentines

I love you, remember you are dying

My oldest was not even two years old the first time I took him to an Ash Wednesday service and went up with him for the imposition of ashes. His big blue eyes were wide with curiosity as my husband, who was the parish priest, made the sign of the cross in oily ashes on his still baby-soft forehead. 

“Remember you are dust and to dust you will return.” 

My…