Dear Readers and Friends,

Today's reflection is on love.  Probably more has been written about love than anything else in the world.  But I will attempt to take a humble stab at communicating a few of my thoughts on the subject.

Recently a dear friend surprised me with the question:  What does it mean when you say you love your children?  For those of us with children, that is a big question.  Do we talk about the feelings of connection (hopefully) we have with our children?  Do we talk about actions, how we will give up half a night's sleep if our child needs us?  Do we talk about our appreciation of our children, our valuing of their essences?

In Greek, there are three words for love:  philos, eros, and agape.   (Note to any Greek scholars out there:  feel free to tweak my understanding of the Greek words if you have something to add.)  Philos is the love of friendship, brotherly or sisterly love.  We love our friends for who they are.  Eros is romantic, sensual, and sexual love.  This is the love of sweethearts.  Agape is the biggest love of all, the unconditional love.  Some would say that this is the love God has for us.  I hope we all have the experience of giving and receiving unconditional love somewhere in our lives.  These words give us a little bit of a window on love, although love is beyond words.

What is love?  This little reflection considers love in different contexts.  You can even love a stranger!  You can love a person with more than one type of love.  There may be many people that we love with both philos and agape loves.  And some are so blessed to have relationships where all three types of love are present in varying degrees!

Love is the opening of your heart to another person.

Love is laughing together.
Love is delighting in shared commonalities and differences.
Love is being amazed that such a person exists, and is in your life.
Love is being student and teacher in the same relationship.
Love is doing mundane tasks in the spirit of caring.
Love is waiting most of the night in the emergency room.
Love is sending out prayers and good energy to someone.
Love is taking risks.
Love is looking in someone's eyes and listening intently.
Love is welcoming a new little person in your life.
Love is drilling spelling words.
Love is cleaning up vomit.  (yeah, well, moving right along here...)
Love is helping.
Love is forgiving.
Love is clasping someone's hand, giving a hug, or a pat on the shoulder.
Love is giving money to a homeless person, AND asking their name or waiting to hear their song.
Love is affirming the goodness in another.
Love is sharing poetry, art, or other personal expressions of creativity.
Love is helping someone see something in a new, more helpful light.
Love is appreciating another's strengths AND vulnerabilities.
Love is following one's own heart, as it encourages others to do the same.
Love is wanting someone else's best interests.
Love is caring, sharing, honesty, and trust.

This is where the rubber meets the proverbial road, folks!  Being a mischievous sort, I went on to ask my friend what the meaning of life is.  But I think I found my own answer!

In wonder, gratitude, and love,
Patricia

Hi friends,
Tomorrow, as part of a preaching opportunity at a Unitarian Universalist church, I am telling children the story of "The Little Engine that Could."  This is an old story by Watty Piper.  Probably many of you remember it from your childhood.

To recap, it's the story of a little train who needed to make it over to the other side of the mountain to bring toys and good food to the children who lived there.  But she stalled and couldn't make it over the mountain.  The dolls and toys on the train asked bigger engines to help, but they were all too important and busy to help the little train.  Finally, the dolls and toys on the train asked a very little blue engine to pull them over the mountain.  The Little Blue Engine had never been over the mountain before, but she talked herself into pulling the little train over the mountain because she understood it would make the children and the dolls and toys very happy.  She hitched herself to the little train and said, "I think I can.  I think I can.  I think I can.  I think I can."  And then she DID pull the train over the mountain and saved the day.

These are some good things in this story:
1. Caring.  The Little Blue Engine cared about the children and dolls and toys.
2.  Intention.  The Little Blue Engine set the intention to make it over the mountain even though she had never done it before.
3.  Positive self-talk or affirmation.  "I think I can" or "I can" is something all of us need to say sometimes to help us achieve our goals.
4.  Perseverance.  The Little Blue engine didn't give up.
5.  Enjoyment of a job well done.  The Little Blue Engine smiled at the end and seemed to say "I thought I could.  I thought I could.  I thought I could." as she puffed down the mountain.

Wishing you caring, intention, positive self-talk, perseverance, and enjoyment of a job well done...just like the Little Blue Engine!
Patricia