Over the weekend,
I had many thoughts and remembrances. Today, as I was processing that
information, I had a very life altering moment. I finally found an answer to something
I have been seeking for many years; from my childhood, to my years as a teen,
and now, in my adulthood, and I feel I must share it with you, my readers. I
feel a boulder has been removed from my back, and my mind at last feels a sense
of peace as I unveil a most mysterious question. Some of you may agree with
what I have come up with, and other may just have another answer. Either way,
this is my interpretation. I have been looking for this secret to be revealed,
and much to my happiness, I, at long last have my answer.
What is love?
I have wondered, written it down on countless pieces of
paper, and never felt satisfied with what I came up with. I have said it out
loud, I have asked others, and in a quiet moment on Sunday morning, I began to
see the path in my mind I must take to answer this lingering question that has
nagged at me for such a time.
As I was standing in my dining room on Sunday morning I
began to just look into the other room, and as the light filtered through the
curtains and kissed my cheeks, it was the most profound revelation that glistened
within me, that I haven’t encountered in such a long time.
I felt my face burn with tears as they trickled down my
slightly sun touched face and a memory began to surface.
For as far back as I can recall, there was an old beat up
blue, matchbox car sitting on the kitchen windowsill. It looked like it had
seen better days, but this little toys served an amazing purpose.
I could hear Mama in the kitchen, I could smell breakfast,
and I knew in just a few seconds what was about to happen. I would hear her “rev”
up that tiny car, making “VROOM VROOM” sounds and getting closer to my bedroom.
I sometimes pretended to be asleep but more often I just waited in bed smiling.
She would make a tire squalling noise at the entrance of my
door and round the corner. Always in an upbeat tone, and with a smile on her
face and that old blue clunker in hand, she would say, “Hop in; breakfast is
ready, get in!”
I would grab the tail of her shirt and play right along. We
rolled into the kitchen; of course all the way through the house she would make
motor noises and slam on the imaginary brakes.
She would stop with a sudden halt at the kitchen table, and
then carefully park that old blue toy back in the window, so it would be gassed
and ready for the next morning.
She did this for my entire childhood, and yes, she even did
it right up until I left home as an adult. It was just something she did, and I
loved her for it. I had forgotten it, and on Sunday that memory came flooding
back.
I began thinking of what it meant and I came up with some
very good answers and other instances that were related.
This is love.
Simply, just love.
It didn’t cost her a dime, and I am sure some mornings she
didn’t feel like doing it, but she did. Why?
Because she loved me, she wanted me to know it, and instead
of just saying it, she showed me in her own way. This is one of many things she
did in my life, but its simplistic joy is what led me to my answer.
I thought back today of acts of pure love, and I came up
with so many.
Love is singing in the kitchen while each little boy takes
turns standing on your feet as you sing “Once upon a Dream”, swirling and
twirling like we were in an enchanted ballroom. Those boys grew up, but I still
sing it to them.
Love is the ‘Good Morning Dance” that makes my almost grown
children more than likely shudder at the sight of me, but it is their send off
every single school morning. I’ve got new dance moves every fall, and it is
just something I do to show them I love them.
It is doing the Soul Train line dance with Luke, and looking
really ridiculous, but not caring because of the joy on his face and the honest
sound of his laughter as I boogie down.
This doesn’t just apply to mothers and children.
Love is a hand written letter.
Love is hug from behind.
Love is a hand picked bouquet of flowers that could easily
pass as weeds.
Love is simply.
Love is action.
Love is showing, love is taking the time to prove it.
Love is a dance, no matter where you are.
Love is committing yourself to trying and following through
with pure honest actions that cost nothing, but take effort and time.
Love is making a fool out of yourself for the sake of loving
another human being, love is simple.
Love is work, but not back breaking work, love is just
trying. Love is so pure and selfless.
It can happen with parents, children, spouses, significant
others, friends, family. It knows no limits.
Love is simple, I find that people make it hard because they
don’t put forth an effort or equate love with a dollar amount, and in my life,
that means nothing. Give me a letter, a song, a dance, a hug, a genuine simple
gesture and love will be found there and it the memories that is creates will
reside in your being for all of your days.
I found out what love is, and I totally get it now. I now
can finally move on to other questions that have been hanging around in my mind
left unanswered, because I now get what love truly means.
Love is a little, beat up blue matchbox car.
Here are my thoughts.
©
Teresa ;)
No comments:
Post a Comment