The Gift Of Love

Love really is a gift.  It both brings a smile to one’s face and tears to one’s eyes.  A lump forms in one’s throat and no matter how much you try to swallow, it is difficult.  Yes, Love is a Gift.

Love is meant and intended to be shared.  Given away.  Freely with the expectation of receiving anything back.  A hard concept to understand because we live in a society of “giving to get”.  Love doesn’t operate that way though. 

When we give a gift, is there the expectation that we receive a gift back?

Not really. 

We give because we want to.  Giving a gift somehow makes us feel good, or perhaps even better, than when we receive a gift.  Love is magical in that respect.

Leo Buscaglia wrote, “Love is always open arms. If you close your arms about love you will find that you are left holding only yourself.”

But . . . in keeping one’s arms open increases our vulnerability, doesn’t it?  We become defenseless.  At the mercy of the person we reach out to.  They can reject us.  They can ignore us.  And if they do, it hurts.  Tremendously so.  In loving, we become vulnerable.

But it is in that sheer vulnerability that makes love the greatest of all gifts.  The greatest gift.

Buscaglia also wrote, “The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing.  He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow or love. Chained by his certitude, he is a slave; he has forfeited his freedom.  Only the person who risks is truly free.”

It comes down to a choice . . . either give The Gift Of Love without strings, without expectations knowing full well that we might not get it back, or withhold it and run the risk of never receiving love because it was never given.  The latter is really a terrible, empty option.  A non-option actually.  This option will only leave one empty, alone and lonely.

Lastly, Love is not like a cake.  Love isn’t cut into pieces to be shared on a first come, first serve basis. Unlike a cake, love doesn’t “run out”.  It is magical in that the more you give love, the more love you seem to have.  A never-ending supply.

To give The Gift Of Love . . . or, not. 

Is there even a choice?  Really?  Something to think about . . .

Live Your Life, and Make A Difference!