Love and logic

As Valentine’s Day once again approaches, plenty of married guys and gals everywhere are anxiously trying to come up with something a little more original than flowers, chocolates, lingerie or jewelry.

And annually I lament the fact that securing life insurance coverage to protect your family as a Valentine’s gift — admittedly not sexy or romantic at the time — seems about as popular as giving your wife a vacuum cleaner or exercise equipment. While life insurance may not elicit that stereotypical “Every Kiss Begins With Kay” response, it’s not like it deserves the evil glare that a Thighmaster or an upright Hoover will get you. Alas, presenting your spouse with proof of a life insurance policy as a gift will likely result in a quizzical look, as in, “Gee, thanks. You shouldn’t have…”

But, of course, you should have. Life insurance is all too often underappreciated by the very people whose future it protects. It’s taken for granted, like the air you breathe. But if it’s not there when you need it, it’s like disaster striking twice. The loved one is gone and so is your lifestyle.

Promoting the purchase of life insurance as a way to express your love on Valentine’s Day is a noble undertaking. I, for one, appreciate the idea and the effort put forth by the LIFE Foundation, which promotes its very compelling “Insure Your Love” campaign each February. As the campaign so accurately states, “It’s called life insurance, but it could just as easily be labeled love insurance. Buying life insurance is really an expression of love. It lets loved ones know that you care so much that you’ve made plans to provide for their well-being … even after you’re gone.”