On my author website, I wrote a piece titled Show, Don’t Tell (https://wordpress.com/post/jrlewisauthor.blog/132) . In it, I explained what the axiom means for a writer. The reader doesn’t want to be spoon-fed, but guided to use his or her imagination when reading.
I think the same is true in life. Words can sometimes get in the way. Even the explanation of a word, love, can somehow make love seem trivial when it isn’t.
Sometimes we say, “I love you!” and one answers, “I love you, too!” and I wonder how much is felt? I wonder if somehow, we’ve lost the meaning of the word. Sad, isn’t it? It’s a little like pulling your car out of the garage, hitting the remote to shut the garage door, driving down the street only to think, ‘Did I shut the garage door?’ And then you drive back to discover that, yes, you did shut the garage door. It becomes habit, automatic, and mindless.
In LinkedIn, I came across a video clip taken from a street camera. An elderly lady stood patiently at a crosswalk as cars sped by. She waited and waited. Finally, a guy on a motorcycle pulled to the side of the road, got off his bike, stopped traffic, and helped the lady cross the street. No horns honked. They waited until not only they crossed the street, but also until the man recrossed the street and got onto his cycle and sped away. That’s love.
I look over my years for examples of love where
the word wasn’t spoken, just . . . done.
My brother, Jim, when his youngest was still in a highchair, would take the food that was prepared and blow on it to cool it off so she wouldn’t burn her tongue. That’s love. My mother, choosing to eat the neck of a turkey or chicken so that us, her children, could have a real meal. That’s love. My brother, Jim, once again, giving up the last spoonful of a chocolate sundae, so his daughter could have it. My dad, working in the basement with me on my eighth grade science project, or my cub scout roller derby, getting it just right for me. That’s love.
So many examples from my life, your life, of love in action. So many examples. Yet, not one needing to declare, “This is love, dammit!”
No. The definition isn’t needed, because love is a verb. It is action. It is doing.
Yes, it’s nice to hear someone say, “I love you!” We need that affirmation as much as flowers need rain and sunshine. But love is also the planting of the flower in the rich soil and getting dirty doing it. That’s love.
Love is a verb. Love is meant to be a verb.
It’s more than a ring on a finger and a change of a last name. It’s more than a sexual act- so much more than that. But yes, it can and should be that as well.
Love is giving. It is hopeful and joyful. It is
that suffocating feeling when your heart breaks, or when your heart is so full
that it might explode. You can’t define it. You just know it because you feel
it.
John Lennon said, “It matters not who you love; Where you love; Why you love; When you love
Or how you love. It matters only that you love.”
Leo Buscaglia said, “What love we've given,
we'll have forever. What love we fail to give, will be lost for all eternity.”
My hope and prayer for you this day is that you think back on all the times love was given to you without announcing it was love. To appreciate the wonderous gifts you were given by countless people, those known to you and those who remained anonymous. More than that, my hope and prayer for you this day is that you love by giving, by doing, by acting out. For after all, love is a verb. Something to think about . . .
Live Your Life, and Make A Difference!
To My Readers:
I have an author's website, in addition to
my Facebook Author’s Page.
On it, I talk about writing. I introduce
characters from my books. I release snippets from those books. I let you in on
any interviews I have done. I will let you know of any events coming up for
books sales and signings. Mostly, it is my way of reaching out to you so that
you get to know my author side of life.
You can find it at: https://jrlewisauthor.blog/
Photo courtesy of Jon Tyson and Unsplash