April 15, 2010
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Thinking about love
Love. Love is a many splendored thing. Love makes the world go round. Love covers a multitude of sins. Love is complicated. Love your enemies. I
NYC Love is everywhere you look, t-shirts, mugs, calendars, bumper stickers, tattoos, billboards, jumbotrons in sporting arenas… you can’t go anywhere without seeing the word or a heart in place of the word. We all know there is more than one kind of love. I love my husband in a whole different way than I love ice cream. I love my children and I love looking out my window and seeing mountains, but it isn’t the same love. I could tell you that there is a variety of root words that mean different things, but somehow in English we’ve decided to use only one word for all of those meanings.
It would not be a lie for me to say I love people. I often tell people I love them too and I always mean it if I say it. It would also not be a lie to say there are people I love, but I don’t tell them because I don’t even want a hint of confusion. Truthfully, that bothers me. What has happened in our society that we’ve made it creepy for adults to tell young people we love them? Or that is is not ok for a married person to tell anyone other than a spouse that we love them? I know there are people out there that are creepy or misguided. But, I hope that those people are the minority. Why do we have to carefully choose our words and say something like ”My kid loves your class. You are a great teacher.” instead of saying “My kid loves you. Thanks for being a great teacher.” We direct the LOVE to a thing so we don’t offend or creep out the person. That just seems so backward to me.
When I hear of things being misconstrewed or taken wrong, it makes me sad. I realize it happnes. I know it happens probably more often than not. But still.. something in our society as a whole has broken when our first thought after hearing I LOVE YOU is to jump to the wrong conclusion. I have seen a saying on a plaque somewhere and maybe even a t-shirt; Live well, Laugh often and Love much. I want that on my gravestone… only in past tense. Donna lived well, laughed often and loved much! For real! Someone write that down. I just have to figure out how to say it to those people that might be confused if I did say it to them. So, I’m tring to figure out how to say I love you without saying I love you. HAHAHA
Have a happy day!
Comments (14)
One good thing about being *ahem* older, is that most people don’t take it wrong when I say I love them anymore. (If they ever did!) I am like everybody’s mom or grandma. I can tell the young guys in my cell group that I love them, give them a hug and all that, and there is no wrong connotation made. It’s nice! After all, there have to be some perks to this getting older business, right? People need to hear those words. Everyone needs to be loved. I think the enemy has made it weird to say because he doesn’t want people to have the wholeness that knowing they are loved can bring. I try to tell people I love them often. Many here in Denmark are embarrassed when I say it, because it is not verbally expressed as much here. They stutter and look nervous, but they love it! People NEED to know! I love you, Donna!
I agree with DanishDoll. There are lots of people and things I love. Love was created by God and it is good.
the doll sure does know of what she speaks. she radiates love when she posts those encouraging, inspiring words in her blog! i, too am entering into that stage of my life where a declaration of love is very unlikely to be misconstrued. it has been quite liberating, but i feel like i still need more “practice” saying it, so i love you, too, Donna…
Awww!!! I love all of you too. @DanishDoll - @FlashFosgitt -
I’m not to that old enough stage yet I suppose. I wish I was. I love many people and don’t have a problem saying I love them, I just still get that “eww creepy lady” look. Not a fan of that!
Say ALOHA!!! it means I love you! Or Hello or goodbye.
ALOHA!
That is why some languages have eight words for the word love…that way there is no confusion. but alas we have this language to live and love with …so we do the best we can by our actions. And it is great to hear the good words also .
I love you more than yesterday and tomorrow I will love you more.
Hugs , MOM
Oh! Well – I love you too!
You were trying to tell me you love me right?
Right?
Wait is this the right web site?
Ummm…. Yeah… Well… That was Spazzz! See!
Yeah! That’s the ticket! I am Spazzz!
ALOHA! Or something!
@Donkey_Guy_10 - YES! I was.