A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:
"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So m…
A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:
"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." Rebecca - age 8
"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - age 4
"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and snuggle together." Karl - age 5
"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." Chrissy - age 6
"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Terri - age 4
"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him to make sure the taste is OK." Danny - age 7
"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that." Emily - age 8
"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen,". Bobby - age 7
"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend whom you hate." Nikka - age 6
"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, and he then wears it every day." Noelle - age 7
"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." Tommy - age 6
"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore." Cindy - age 8
"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night." Clare - age 6
"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." Elaine - age 5
"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." Chris - age 7
"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." Mary Ann - age 4
"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." Lauren - age 4
"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." Karen - age 7
"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget." Jessica - age 8
And the final one:
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four-year-old child whose next-door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,
"Nothing, I just helped him cry."
There is much we can learn from little children. In fact, Jesus taught his followers to
be child-like – in sincerity, innocence, faith and trust, and even love. Let’s put aside
our sophistications, our desire for status and power, and humble ourselves like a little
child – for to such belongs the kingdom of God (Matthew 18:2-5; 19:4).
Indeed, children are unadulterated and understand the true essence of Love before life gets in the way. The source of Love at its purest they understand. Suffer the little children to come unto Me. I love that verse. May peace be with all of us thanks to our Jesus.
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
---
Two perspectives:
BaBa and BeBe both had traveled through some tough terrain recently. Their shepherd had led them through a narrow mountain pass, into (and out of) a dark cave, and now they were in a field where wild beasts had roared in the distance.
“It’s been a horrible trip,” BaBa moaned. “Dangers and hardships everywhere. Did you see how I toppled on my back coming down that mountain pass? I’d never traveled such a steep slope.”
“But the shepherd picked you right up,” countered BeBe. “He led us safely every step. We didn’t know where we were going, but he did. And I’m sure he still does.”
“But did you hear that noise last night?” BaBa asked. “I thought for sure a wild animal would tear us apart.”
“I heard it,” replied BeBe, “and I was afraid at first. But then I looked over at the shepherd, and saw he had his weapon at the ready. He’s not going to let anything hurt us, BaBa. I, for one, am going to graze in peace.”
With that, BeBe started munching on a delicious clump of grass. But BaBa was not finished yet.
“Where do you think we’ll go next? What if it’s near a cliff? I’m soooooo scarred I’ll fall over a cliff.”
BeBe felt a momentary panic at the thought of a cliff, but then she remembered her shepherd. “If our shepherd can lead us through the dangers he has, I think we can trust him to keep us safe near a cliff,” she replied, returning to her munching. This pasture had such delicious grass!
BaBa, on the other hand, kept baaing about the distant animal noises she heard and how hard of a path she’d trod. She kept thinking about the hardships instead of the shepherd.
The most sacred laid down His life not because we deserved it, but because His love demanded it. Love held Jesus to the cross, not the nails. The cross was the bridge Jesus built to bring us back to God. He drank the bitter cup of wrath & pain so we could drink the cup of pure love & salvation. He carried the cross we deserved to carry, so we could receive the grace we didn’t deserve. His love was so deep, it reached down into his own torture & death to lift us into life.
Thank you for this. I sent a copy to my family - to those who have lost their way with God. On this Easter Sunday, as I thank God for my life and look at the brilliant sky, I want them to at least focus on love.
I once asked my daughter who was in high school how she knew I loved her… asked because I have said I love you to her and she responded I know. Her response still affects me… she said that I get up every morning with her and her brother and I kiss them good -bye on their way to school. She said that she didn’t know any other parents who did that.
What love is from the mouths of Children:
A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:
"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." Rebecca - age 8
"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - age 4
"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and snuggle together." Karl - age 5
"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." Chrissy - age 6
"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Terri - age 4
"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him to make sure the taste is OK." Danny - age 7
"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that." Emily - age 8
"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen,". Bobby - age 7
"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend whom you hate." Nikka - age 6
"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, and he then wears it every day." Noelle - age 7
"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." Tommy - age 6
"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore." Cindy - age 8
"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night." Clare - age 6
"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." Elaine - age 5
"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." Chris - age 7
"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." Mary Ann - age 4
"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." Lauren - age 4
"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." Karen - age 7
"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget." Jessica - age 8
And the final one:
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four-year-old child whose next-door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,
"Nothing, I just helped him cry."
There is much we can learn from little children. In fact, Jesus taught his followers to
be child-like – in sincerity, innocence, faith and trust, and even love. Let’s put aside
our sophistications, our desire for status and power, and humble ourselves like a little
child – for to such belongs the kingdom of God (Matthew 18:2-5; 19:4).
Source: https://universal-spirituality.net/divine-plan-of-salvation/love-in-action/
Indeed, children are unadulterated and understand the true essence of Love before life gets in the way. The source of Love at its purest they understand. Suffer the little children to come unto Me. I love that verse. May peace be with all of us thanks to our Jesus.
That is the innocence that we will have again someday.
Fear Not: God the Father is in Charge...
A Psalm of David.
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
---
Two perspectives:
BaBa and BeBe both had traveled through some tough terrain recently. Their shepherd had led them through a narrow mountain pass, into (and out of) a dark cave, and now they were in a field where wild beasts had roared in the distance.
“It’s been a horrible trip,” BaBa moaned. “Dangers and hardships everywhere. Did you see how I toppled on my back coming down that mountain pass? I’d never traveled such a steep slope.”
“But the shepherd picked you right up,” countered BeBe. “He led us safely every step. We didn’t know where we were going, but he did. And I’m sure he still does.”
“But did you hear that noise last night?” BaBa asked. “I thought for sure a wild animal would tear us apart.”
“I heard it,” replied BeBe, “and I was afraid at first. But then I looked over at the shepherd, and saw he had his weapon at the ready. He’s not going to let anything hurt us, BaBa. I, for one, am going to graze in peace.”
With that, BeBe started munching on a delicious clump of grass. But BaBa was not finished yet.
“Where do you think we’ll go next? What if it’s near a cliff? I’m soooooo scarred I’ll fall over a cliff.”
BeBe felt a momentary panic at the thought of a cliff, but then she remembered her shepherd. “If our shepherd can lead us through the dangers he has, I think we can trust him to keep us safe near a cliff,” she replied, returning to her munching. This pasture had such delicious grass!
BaBa, on the other hand, kept baaing about the distant animal noises she heard and how hard of a path she’d trod. She kept thinking about the hardships instead of the shepherd.
The most sacred laid down His life not because we deserved it, but because His love demanded it. Love held Jesus to the cross, not the nails. The cross was the bridge Jesus built to bring us back to God. He drank the bitter cup of wrath & pain so we could drink the cup of pure love & salvation. He carried the cross we deserved to carry, so we could receive the grace we didn’t deserve. His love was so deep, it reached down into his own torture & death to lift us into life.
Ok TT, now I am crying. What indescribable Love.
I love the reference that 'love held Jesus to the cross.'
aaaww, Geez Tri-T.
I did not need to attend church this morning, just read Father Goodrich and Father Tri-T's sermons.
thank you. . . both!
What a beautiful description of the crucifixtion. Thank you TT
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, you give yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God!
-Cory Asbury
So beautiful. Thank you, T.
Best wishes and love to you on this most blessed of days.
This is truly beautiful…thank you!
"The cross was the bridge Jesus built to bring us back to God".
No the Father did that not the Son.
“Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
A 4 year old knows and said that.
That last one got me :)
I'm just helping him cry❤️💔😍
Me too 🥲
Leo Buscaglia..such a wise man. His books are wonderful
It’s been a long time since I thought about him.
yeah, me too.
It must be 20+ years ago we saw his films at church.. .
Many of his speeches are on YouTube.
https://youtu.be/x7WsfAFmE8g?si=xLysW3UZMLPkUeuy
Thank you for this. I sent a copy to my family - to those who have lost their way with God. On this Easter Sunday, as I thank God for my life and look at the brilliant sky, I want them to at least focus on love.
Out of the mouths of babes...
I wish I wrote all the funny things kids said over the years of teaching elementary.
Love this!! Such sweetness!! ❤️
So beautiful it made me cry. Thank you Tri torch
That is just great Tri-T!
Good ole Leo Buscaglia-- Mister Love himself. A great man to quote. thank you.
Beautiful words from the mouth of babes. Loved reading their definition of love.
I once asked my daughter who was in high school how she knew I loved her… asked because I have said I love you to her and she responded I know. Her response still affects me… she said that I get up every morning with her and her brother and I kiss them good -bye on their way to school. She said that she didn’t know any other parents who did that.
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings...
Love this!! Thank you💕!
Thanks Tritorch, now I’m crying over the sweetness and innocence of how children define Love ❤️