A couple weeks ago I finished The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons (it was excellent by the way if you didn't see the mini review in the sidebar). Although there were many outstanding scenes within, one has stayed with me these following weeks (besides the horrors of starvation and basic survival in WW2). Dimitri ask's a question to a group on a picnic "What do you think love is?" Our heroine, Tatia, after much ribbing and thinking responds "Love is...when he is hungry and you feed him. Love is knowing when he is hungry." Within the context of the book this is profound. Within my own life this is an equally profound question and response. My Grandmother feed her family and husband. My Mum takes great pride is caring and cooking for her husband. I too love to cook for my loved ones. Knowing what another persons needs are and being able to provide that....is a powerful thing. And not something that I really considered 'love'...until now.
So....Gentle Readers....I ask you "What do you think love is?"
12 comments:
Tami,
You have been so kind to leave such generous and frequent comments on my post (www.roxanesalonen.blogspot.com). It is high time I returned the favor. I loved how you pulled that very profound quote out of the many words that could have been pulled. I feel I might have learned the most significant piece of the book without even reading it. There is another assessment of love that I have heard and lived by as often as possible: Love is a decision. We get caught up in the Western romantic version of love, and that is a powerful force, certainly, but beyond the romance of early love, there is a love guided simply by having made the choice to love. And to me, that is the most powerful kind of love of all. When you are choosing to meet the basic needs of someone without condition, like feeding them, that is love. Thanks for the awesome thought today.
Love is knowing what he is going t do or say before he does....love is laying down your life for someone without a moments hesitation.
After reading Roxane's comment I think I'll keep my mouth shut so I don't sound dumb.
I guess to me love is writing out 342 Christmas cards and making 500 cupcakes for TNT to take on his tool truck without being paid. Oh and washing his dirty clothes.
Or love is when you can't wait to get home at night to see your man and still get butterflies when you do see him.
Carrie,
I hope you don't discount my "love is a decision" to mean that butterflies-in-the-stomach can't still accompany the relationship built on love. :) They can and should! It's just not likely to happen every moment, probably. :)
I was meaning your comment sounds sophisticated and I knew mine wouldn't sound anything close to that. ;)
My favorite thing to see is a really old couple who've been through everything together still holding hands. Makes my heart all happy!
Roxane...Thank you for you insight. And I agree it is indeed powerful.
Claudia...your sentiment is also portrayed in the book as well.
Carrie...No one here would ever think you sounded dumb...and if they dared I would delete them. Butterflies are among the sweetest feeling in the world are they not?
Carrie,
I liked your answer. We all have expressed a similar truth in different words. :)
Roxane
Love is so complex, but simply stated..different for everyone. Knowing someones needs before they know the need themselves is a very caring deep love. :)
Profound question... I think love is putting the other person/people's needs before your own. Showing compassion and respect. Holding hands.
I have to say for me..love is everything. Its a feeling you get when you see someone, the thoughts of them that don't go, its the worried mind of where are they..the list goes on. Before we got married, we did premarital counseling. This was one of our questions. What is love and why do I love him? Now I cant honestly remember all that I said, but our Pastor was in shock to hear my answer. He loved it and knew it was so honest and profound that he knew we were right for each other. Love is a beautiful thing!
I suppose there will be a lot of requests for this book at the store and lbraries......
LadyFi...holding hands. Isn't it amazing what the smallest touch can convey.
She's married now...Love IS a beautiful thing.
Claudia...it is well worth the time to read. You have to stick with it in the beginning, the writing style takes some getting used to. And I had to talk myself into the heroine at first because I of course know what is going to happen even if she doesn't. Which makes the writing all that much better...in after thoughts.
Post a Comment