Love Is Three

“Of course if you like your kids, if you love them from the moment they begin, you yourself begin all over again, in them, with them, and so there is something more to the world again.” -William Saroyan

Loving someone and being loved brings happiness into our lives. In our life there are many different loves that we have. You have the love of your spouse or partner. There are your parents, your family and children, or your best friend.

We all want and need love, it is an essential part of the human race. With love, we help each other, cooperate with each other, and reaffirm each other. And when love brings a man and a woman together, inevitably that love will create a family.

Family is a basic building block of our society. It is a community of life and love, that is intended to protect each family member and to communicate love. It gives you your identity and background, and a sense of belonging.

Within the family you are able to share each members daily experiences, and give life meaning. It is where you celebrate birthdays, holidays, and those important days in our life. It provides us with an opportunity to grow in virtue, love, generosity, and patience. You also learn that forgiveness is a key piece to being in a family.

And what started all of this?

Why of course it all started with love. It is sustained with love. It remains forever with love. Love is ...

Love Is Two

Love

"One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love." -Sophocles

I read a story recently about love explained in a way I never would have thought. The story goes that a woman asked a man if she was pretty, he said "No". She asked him if he wanted to be with her forever, he said "No". Then she asked him if he would cry if she walked away, he said "No". She had heard enough; she got up to leave.

As she walked away he grabbed her arm and told her to stay. He said "You're not pretty, you're beautiful. I don`t want to be with you forever, I need to be with you forever. And I wouldn't cry if you walked away, I would die."

Love is more than you can ask for. It is more beautiful than we can ever be. It lasts longer than we can exist in the natural. It dries any tears that we might shed. Love is everything in our lives.

Love Is One

"Love Is ..."

"If you've got love you've got life, if you can love you can live". -Kim Casali

A comic strip called Love Is has been around since 1970. I remember reading the panel every time I picked up a newspaper. New Zealand cartoonist Kim Casali created these from love notes that she drew for her future husband Roberto.

Kim was actually born Marilyn Judith Grove in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1941 and at the age of 19 travelled to Europe and the U.S. She worked in various jobs, including being a waitress in a London teashop, before moving in 1967 to Los Angeles, where she met Roberto Casali, an Italian computer engineer, at a party.

She created the "love notes" during her courtship with Roberto in Los Angeles. As Kim said to an interviewer "I began making little drawings for myself to express how I felt . . . It was a little bit like keeping a diary that described how my feelings had grown."

They were married in 1971 but unfortunately lost their jobs and were now living illegally in the U.S. They were trying to find jobs that would keep them "... one step ahead of the Immigration Department" here in the United States.

In 1972, they moved to Britain and had two sons, Stefano, now 24, and Dario, now 21. In 1975 Roberto was diagnosed with cancer and died a year later. However, a third son, Milo, was born through artificial insemination in 1977, nearly a year and a half after his father's death.

In 1975, Bill Asprey was chosen by Kim Casali and her husband Roberto to take on the writing and drawing of these daily panels. Even though Robert passed away in 1976 and Kim more recently in 1997, their love continues to be shared with readers around the world.

Love can be a very enduring part of our life. Love can be shared and inspire others beyond the natural part of our life. Love is ...

Get by Giving

"Don’t be overly concerned with what you are or are not “into.” Don’t dwell on whether or not you are “feeling” it. Push on and benefit anyway." -Jim Crumbley

Here it is, day five of our "week of giving" during the Christmas season. The idea of giving is sometimes interpreted as "giving only in terms of getting something in return." People will give only when they see a tangible return that will be received.

My thought is that you should give of your time, talent and monies even when you don't see a clear benefit. Many times the benefit is not felt until you actually advance with your giving. That is what selfless giving is, giving without expectation of anything in return.

What does happen is that benefit will happen to both parties involved. The person receiving the gift will gain whatever is given. The person giving (YOU) will find benefit in ways never thought of.

So you can give your money by donating to one of hundreds, even thousands of worth-while causes. You can give to the Quinn House, to Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta, Compassion International, the Salvation Army and maybe any local charity that exists in your community.

You can give of your time and talent to any one of these or many organizations. You can help cook a meal or deliver a meal. You can deliver gifts to children or visit retirees living alone in a home. You have a car and can offer rides to the doctor for those in need. You can volunteer at the hospital as a greeter, or collect monies for the Salvation Army ringing a bell.

Life has many opportunities for you to participate in or give to. The benefit to you should not be of concern to you. The benefit will come to you in ways you will least expect. So stop worrying about what you will "benefit" and just get on with "giving" to others. As the saying goes, "...tis the season." Everyday of the year it is the season of giving.

Stay inspired my friends.