A group of professional people posed this question to a
group of 4 to 8-year-olds, 'What does love mean?' The answers they got were
broader, deeper, and more profound than anyone could have ever imagined!
'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend
over and paint her toenails anymore... So my grandfather does it for her all
the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.' Rebecca - age 8
'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is
different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.' Billy - age 4
'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on
shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.' Karl - age 5
'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of
your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.' Chrissy - age 6
'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.' Terri -
age 4
'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she
takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.' Danny - age
8
'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you
stop opening presents and just listen.' Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)
'If you want to learn to love better, you should start
with a friend who you hate.' Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's
on this planet)
'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he
wears it every day.' Noelle - age 7
'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who
are still friends even after they know each other so well.' Tommy - age 6
'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was
scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and
smiling.
He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'
Cindy - age 8
'My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see
anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.' Clare - age 6
'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of
chicken.' Elaine - age 5
'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and
still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.' Chris - age 7
'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you
left him alone all day.' Mary Ann - age 4
'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all
her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.' Lauren - age 4
'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down
and little stars come out of you.' (what an image!) Karen - age 7
'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she
doesn't think it's gross...' Mark - age 6
'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean
it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.' Jessica - age
8
And the final one: The winner was a four year old child
whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his
wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's
yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he
had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, 'Nothing, I just helped him
cry.'
