Love is hard work.

Love is hard work.

Now that Valentine’s Day is over we can get down to the real business of love.

Love is not always flowers and chocolates or a fine dinner over a bottle of wine.  Rather, these are icing on the cake of love.  The real work of love is behind the scenes.  Subtle yet powerful.   Painful and challenging at times.

Love is saying “I’ll be right there” when you have a million other pressing things on your schedule. Love is the two AM feeding when they are infants, the carpooling to 100 soccer games when they are 10, holding them accountable to a curfew when they are  teenagers, and eventually letting go as they kick and scream for their independence. Love is listening and keeping your mouth shut when you think you have earth shattering advice. Love is being strong and letting someone lean on you. Love is hanging on the phone for hours with a friend who just needs to talk. Love is knowing the difference between supporting and enabling.  Love is forgiving others and releasing obligation. Love is forgiving oneself for mistakes made and roads not taken. Love is keeping vigil at the bedside of a dying parent. Love is holding on to hope in a desperate situation. Love is praying for good news. Love is comforting the grieving. Love is walking to the end of ones’ land every evening and waiting for the prodigal son to return home. Love is holding out a light in the darkness.

Love is swallowing your pride when your pride is getting in the way of loving.

Love is hard work.

 

10 Responses »

  1. Thank goodness you didn’t say, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry”. Seriously, you hit the nail right on the head my friend.

  2. You’ve captured the definition of love in a beautiful way, Rosemarie. Peter’s comment is a wonderful tribute to you. What you say on this blog impacts a lot of people. Your words are always full-hearted, genuine, courageous, and inspiring. And love? It’s what gets it done. It’s what is meant by: “The heart has its reasons of which reason knows not.” It’s what ties life together and gives life meaning.

  3. Kathy, I love your comments. Love does make life meaningful. Our children make our lives meaningful. It’s all a beautiful tapestry. You write so beautifully! Would you like to do a “guest” blog on onehipdiva??

  4. Oh gracious, I’m one of those people, Rosemarie, who hide behind transition lenses, baggy clothes, and velcro. It takes great courage to write a blog and I admire you so much for sharing your insights and vision. I’m timid at best, diffidently wimpy at worst. It’s quite a leap for me to comment on your blog entries, but I’m so impressed by them. What you say is so meaningful and I deeply appreciate being able to soak in your “life savvy.” If this were the Whittier College pool, you’d be doing laps; I’d be testing the warmth of the water with my toes! Enough said! LOL!

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