When I was young, there was an adorable cartoon strip called Love is… Each image was accompanied by a definition of love. The series began, romantically enough, as notes between Kim Casali, nee Grove, and her future husband. But love, for me, is far more than romantic gestures (wonderful though they are). Love is found between couples, families, friends and strangers, pets and our relationship with the planet. So, with Valentine’s fresh in our minds this week, I’d like to propose my own list of what love is and I hope that you will add to it in the comments’ section.
Image: a copy of the original by Karen Costello-McFeat
- Love is… sharing laughter with good friends
- Love is… enjoying each others’ company with or without words
- Love is… the energy of the Universe
- Love is… a kind word
- Love is… a child giving you their hand
- Love is… bringing someone the perfect cup of tea when they are too tired to move
- Love is… waiting at the window for you to come home
- Love is… loving you just as you are
- Love is… always being ready to say sorry
- Love is… donating the gift of time
- Love is… having your best interests at heart
- Love is… honouring the Earth
- Love is… a warm hug!
- Love is… the greatest present we can give ourselves
Of course, no one can surpass St Paul’s list of love’s attributes in Corinthians 1 13:4-8 beginning, ‘Love is patient, love is kind’. I have a section of it in beautiful calligraphy on my kitchen shelf. It serves as a reminder when I am feeling less charitable.
Happiness is the by-product of love
This morning, as I took Hermione to her grooming session, I passed a couple of street pastors who had been singing and playing guitar on the wide pavement. They stopped to pat the dog and say hi and I went on my way. After dropping Hermione off, I spoke to them again and thanked them for bringing a little music to the street. They did not proselytise, but explained they were there to bring a little friendliness and joy at a time when so many were struggling. Thinking about it, I realised that they were the embodiment of love in action- giving their time and good cheer freely. And I thought how such acts of love bring happiness and how happiness is always a by-product of love. There is so much in print about happiness and how to achieve it, when it can be summed up in a few words. Want more happiness? Share more love.