Today I’m grateful for universal love…
It’s something I think a lot of…
And I pray for the day we realize
We are all just different expressions
of that one universal love.
The more hate I hear and see…
the more I want to write about love, my friends and family…
about nature the stars, the moon…about compassion and music and art.
This helps the hate that enters through my eyes and ears from ever reaching my heart.
So today I reach into my memory to a love poem I wrote back in the day
It’s the only way my heart knows how to keep this hatred away:
A LOVE SONG
He wanted to write her a love song that would sound as sweet as the birds.
He wanted to write her a love song…with elegant and beautiful words.
But he was not a songwriter…he could never find the words…
and though his heart was more than willing he couldn’t create music like the birds.
Instead he wrote her a simple card which said:
I wanted to write you a love song
I wanted it to be as sweet and as beautiful as the birds…
I wanted to write you a love song…but, as you know, I’m not very good with words.
I wanted to write you a love song…to celebrate our anniversary…
but this is the best I could come up with…
and he signed the card….Love Me.
She smiled as she closed the card…then held it to her chest.
A tear dropped to her cheek as she realized she’s been blessed.
“Oh but you have written me a love song.” She said “every moment of every day…
with everything you do…and everything you say.”
“It’s a daily chorus with music and words I cherish and adore
and every day you add another verse more beautiful than before.”
Their eyes met in a smile…then they hugged…and he never felt more glad…
than the day he wanted to write her a love song…
then realized…he already had.
Today I’ grateful for understanding
how love, the greatest gift in life,
is also a gift we have to earn….
For when we do
it allows us to love another person…
and
to be loved in return.
Today begins with this Swedish proverb…
which I am happy this morning to post:
May we be blessed to love one another
even when we least deserve it
because that is when we need it most.
We asked a couple who’ve been married forever…
What makes your love so strong?
What has kept you together all these years?
What has made your marriage last so long?
They smiled and immediately began describing moments….
Their conversation went something like this:
The way she tenderly wipes a tear from my cheek.
When she sneaks up behind me and steals a kiss.
When she hugs me for no reason.
When she silently holds my hand.
How her scent upon me lingers.
When we walk together in the sand.
The gentleness of her touch.
The loving way she says my name.
I love the smile on her face when our eyes meet…
(Sigh) How her smile is the same.
They never specifically mentioned what made their marriage last so long
from it’s beginning to its continuing eternity
but as we listened to them talk…it was easy for us to see.
From the day they wed…until today…and to a future unforeseen…
what has made their marriage last so long…
are all those beautiful moments in between.
I like to solve word ladders…as a puzzle I think they’re great!
Did you know Lewis Carroll invented word ladders back in 1878?
Yes, the same Lewis Carroll who in 1865 I understand…
wrote a story about Alice…who followed a rabbit running late
into a wonderland.
In a word ladder you start with a word…
The object is for that word to be reversed…
by changing one letter at a time you make a chain of words…
and when you're finished there is a link between the last word and the first.
For instance let’s take the word love…
change the ‘l’ to a ‘d’ and you have dove.
Change the ‘v’ to ‘t’ and you have dote.
Then change the ‘o’ to an ‘a’ and you have date…
Change the ‘d’ to an ‘h’ and voila…
you have quickly changed love into hate.
A word ladder works in both directions…
in case that’s something you were thinking of
We can start with the word hate and using the same process
change hate back into love.
But life is not a word game is it…played with paper, pencil or pen…
and love which can quickly change to hate…
Does not change so quickly back again.
Perhaps Lewis Carroll provided a solution…
reminding us if we want to find our Wonderland…it’s is not too late…
When he wrote, ‘Oh, ’tis love ’tis love that makes the world go round…
and no where did he mention hate.
So here’s a little something inspired by Lewis and his Alice
that I’ve been thinking of…
What if the word ladder we’re creating in life
begins and ends with love.
They learned long ago that a life filled with perfection…
has less to do with life itself…and more with their perception:
Every night before they fall asleep…as in their bed they lay…
she gives him a kiss good night and says, “Thank you for a perfect day.”
And every night as they lay in bed…the moment she is through…
“For such a perfect day”, he says, “I’d like to thank you too.”
This has been their habit throughout their life…they always find a way
as they kiss goodnight to thank each other for another perfect day.
What makes each day seem perfect to them…is easy to understand
It’s spending time together…enjoying life…side-by-side and hand-in-hand.
If they’re together in the evening…happy, healthy and smiling…
to each other it’s easy for them to say,
No matter what bumps along the way they faced,
“Thank you for a perfect day.”
And they’ve discovered as they’ve grown old together…
all these years as husband and wife…
When you string so many perfect days together…
you end up with a perfect life.
Yes, they are living proof the perfect life is out there…
the key is finding a way..
to understand the perfect life…
begins with a perfect day.
In my mind thoughts do constant swirl,
Leaves that rustle playfully twirl,
I vex the future looking meek,
But now through veil the light it peaks.
Women now, once a baby held,
My confidence in her excelled,
Today my heart is very proud,
She takes her place in world unbound.
In quiet moments of her doubt,
Uncertain shadows loom and clout,
A fire within her gently glows,
A strength unseen, yet fiercely shows.
Her spirit, like a mountain high,
Unyielding, steadfast 'neath the sky,
She faces storms with grace and might,
A beacon in the darkest night.
Whispers of doubt may taunt and tease,
Her heart beats on with courage, ease,
In her soul, a warrior stands,
With dreams held tightly in her hands.
So, rise, dear niece, and take your place,
For in your heart, there's endless space,
To conquer fears, to reach new heights,
You're such a star, shining bright.
Remember this, and always know,
Your strength is boundless, let it show,
In every step, in every stride,
You are so strong, with love your guide.
Today I’m grateful for the love…of those who are close to me today
and those I’ve loved who have passed…but are not very far away.
as long as my memory serves as host
to how we laughed and lived and loved
three things that matter most.