mrdreamjeans | Worth Pondering ... Love Is ... (Reply)

I just returned from driving my Dad to cardiac rehab in Navasota, Texas. I’m in the office with the blinds closed, trying to escape the 101 degree F, 5:30pm heat. It’s also humid. All things considered, I’m handling the stress and uncomfortable climate pretty well. I’m just imagining myself in Seattle or further north or even in another hemisphere where it’s Winter:)

I’ve come across a few quotes about love which I saved, recently received an email or two with sentimental, sometimes humorous thoughts on the topic. What is the meaning of love? How does love feel? What does it mean to receive love or give love? Is unconditional love possible? As you can see, "Love Is" is a topic near and dear to my heart:)

I came across this quotation a few months back. It rings true to me. I’ve had a couple of dating situations where this was the case ... “He was never my great love, just my great wanting to be loved.” What do you think? Anyone like that in your personal history of romance? When I was in Minneapolis, I watched one of my favorite films, one that fell under the radar (or Gaydar) of most people. The movie is titled “Unconditional Love” and starred Kathy Bates, Rupert Everett and Jonathan Pryce. Stylistically, it’s a mish-mosh, but I like its message. Paraphrasing Bates’ character ..”Unconditional love is when you love someone and the other person doesn’t have to say it back for it to be so.” I’ve loved like that .... Have you?

A Seattle friend forwarded me an email a couple of days ago, one that’s been going around to unabashedly sentimental folk such as myself. Supposedly, the words come from the mouth of babes. I like to think that children could say things so obviously wise and uncensored about the meaning of love. I’ve edited the email, using only the quotes that have resonance for me.

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." - Rebecca- age 8

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." - Billy - age 4

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." - Chrissy - age 6

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." - Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with someone you hate." - Nikka - age 6 (We need a few million more Nikka's on this planet.)

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." - Noelle - age 7

"My mommy loves me more than anybody . You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night." - Clare - age 6

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." - Mary Ann - age 4

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." (What an image!) - Karen - age 7

"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget." - Jessica - age 8 (Go Jessica! I live by this creed.)

My favorite -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there! When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing ... I just helped him cry ..."

I have one example to add from my own experience ... When my nephew Buddy was 5, (He's now 22.) my brother Jeff moved the family to Alabama for a job opportunity. As I was saying goodbye, I gave Buddy a hug ... "Buddy, you're Uncle Neil is really going to miss you." As I was talking to him, he was shyly kicking gravel; he suddenly stopped, looked up at me and said, "Don't worry Uncle Neil ... Wherever I am, I still love you." I hold on to that memory, the feeling of his words, with all of my might.

Finally - Let me wish