The Meaning of Love
Posted for our own Pam Varnado
Since the beginning of time people have searched for the true meaning of love. We need it like we need water. Great writers, such as Maya Angelou, Shakespeare and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, have written about it. Consider the words of William Blake.
Love seeketh not itself to please, nor for itself hath any care, but for another gives its ease, and builds a Heaven in Hell's despair." ~William Blake (1757-1827)
Love is more than fireworks and nights of passionate lovemaking. It often is found in the smallest acts that we perform on a daily basis. In fact, in our quests to find the real essence of love, we’ve stumbled across some amazing facts about that little four-letter word.
Love is what you feel when you look into the eyes of your child for the first time.
Love is when your heartbeat quickens every time your significant other enters a room, even ten years into the relationships.
Love is helping your mother or grandmother open a can of green beans when her fingers are hurting from arthritis.
Love is when someone hurts you and you find a way to forgive him or her.
Love is treating yourself to a day at the spa.
Love is saying no when saying yes will cause harm to someone.
Love is when you help a friend in need.
Love is cuddling up with your cat and dog and reading a good book on a rainy day.
Love is the foundation of everything good. It’s the reason we exist.
One thing I’ve discovered is that I don’t have to search for love. It happens without any effort on my part. I’d love to hear some of your views on love.
I agree with all your facets of love, each touching and reminding me that love isn't just the stuff of romance novels. Though a good hot passionate night isn't to be left out! :-)
Pam, excellent topic and very good list. Might I add, the first time you hold your grandchild in your arms?
Scarlet
It shows in your eyes how happy you are to see someone you love. That's why we love our dogs so much. Their whole body shows how happy they are to see us. Though the cat continues her nap, I know she's happy, too.
Hey, Pam,
Love is offering to ride with a friend over 1,000 miles to deliver two adults 4 children, (2 teens, a preteen, and a fussy baby) and sedated cats, litter box and all!
Pam knows what I mean.
Or meeting some one at a conference and remaining friends through several re-locations. Linda and Scarlet, you know what I mean.
Not leaving out the high school budy who found me more than 30 years later.
Got lots of love, here!
Don't get me started on loving your kid. That would take a book!
Edie, love you for your loyalty and giving nature.
Pam, what a wonderful post. So beautifully written. I agree about the grandbabies. Sadly, our first grandbaby boy was still born. But I loved Adam dearly and still do. There's nothing like the dear little precious ones in our lives.
Linda,
You're right. A night of passionate lovemaking will always make my list
Pam
Scarlet,
There are no words to describe the feeling of holding a grandchild in your arms. I can remember the first time I held my two grandsons. They are so precious and...wow, I'm getting all teary just thinking about them.
Edie,
The eyes of cats or dogs are really expressions of their souls. Their love is unconditional. I'm always touched by that fact. People are sometimes cruel to animals but they are quick to forgive us even at our baddest times.
Mary,
I'd ride to hell and back with you, babe. Oh wait, we already did that.
Thanks for being such a good friend. Sometimes we forget to say that to the people we're the closest with.
Beth,
Im sorry to hear about your grandson, Adam. We expect older people to pass on, but when it happens at the brink of life it's often hard to accept. Four years ago, my brother passed away. He was only thirty. But I remember his spirit and think of the good times we shared. He's forever alive in my heart.
Pam what a great post. Love is giving my time to my Mom when I'd rather be elsewhere. Love is playing with my granchildren and enjoying their screams and laughter. Love is sitting with my husband quietly, each one of us busy on his own computer. Just being together. And of course what the smart Nightingale said, but that private business. LOL
Mona,
I loved reading about the special moments you've shared with your family, especially when you mentioned how you loved to just sit with your husband while each of you work on your computers. I also love the moments when my husband and I just sit quietly and do nothing but watch a movie or read a book.
I remember seeing the move Love Story. The line I will never forget was, "Love means never having to say you're sorry." I thought about that. It bugged me for a long time.
I feel love means saying you're sorry when you're not even wrong. It means saying you're sorry just to make someone else feel better. It gives sympathy, it is all about saying I'm sorry when you lose a loved one.
What she should have said was, "love means you will always be forgiven." That's more like it.
Great post Pam.
Mary,
Thanks for responding to my post. Like you I feel that love means you will always be forgiven. If it comes from the heart it has no conditions.
Love is telling your critique partner(s) no excuses get butt in chair and fingers to the keyboard.
I love you guys.
Good post, Pam.
Connie Gillam
Pam...Great post. As a writer, adding romance to a story is fun but there's nothing like the real thing between people and animals close to you that fulfills a person. And those little moments with people you don't even know that well make it all the sweeter. I tell my granddaughters that love is a magical thing because there's always enough to go around.
Sorry I'm late, Pam... I was away from the computer most of yesterday. We write a lot about the big moments of love, but often it's the little moments added up day by day that matter more.
Judy,
Thanks for my love of Oprah Winfrey I've started to look at the smaller things in life. Most people get caught up in the TV version of love, but it's the tiny details that matter.
Barbara,
Thanks for commenting. And you're right, it's the day to day aspects of love that's sustaining.
Connie,
Thanks for the nudge. It was just what I needed.
What a wonderful thought and heart provoking post, Pam.
Love is so many things to me.
Love is accepting one's shortcomings
Love is watching a mama bird feed her young
Love is patience in the most dire of situations
Love is that special look in your spouse's eye at an unexpected moment
Love is the gentle touch or a curious child's hand to your face
Love is being met with such exuberant enthusiasm by my Sheltie when I come home from work
Oh I could go on and on...
What a wonderful way to dispel the misgivings of life. Dwelling our thoughts on the things that make us happy and loved.
Thank you, Pam. You've made my day:)
Dayana~