Wednesday 15 December 2010

I felt so Unwanted.

Ok so my last post hit an all time record of the least number of comments ever. I began to ask if it was at all worth it all this writing and nobody listening. There are so many other things I could do with the time. Then I thought about how busy I have been these last few weeks and how busy everybody else must be. On top of all the problems with the snow comes the preparations for Christmas. So instead of feeling unwanted and sorry for me I thought about all those busy people out there in blogger land.

I dragged through all the stories and information I have gathered wondering what to put on here at this time. Then I remembered the professor who was doing some research into what young people thought of love. Some of these make me smile and some of them make me think.

He asked a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?" The answers he got were broader and deeper than anyone could have 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 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 mum makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." Danny - age 7



"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss" Emily - age 8



"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and 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



"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." 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 mum loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night." Clare - age 6



"Love is when Mum gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." Elaine -age 5



"Love is when Mum sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." Chris - age 7



"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." Karen - age 7



"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



A minister once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbour 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 him what he had said to the neighbour, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry."

9 comments:

  1. This post may get you a lot of people who say they read your blog but don't always comment. Like me!
    I have 2 blogs.. one is 99% art related ..the other is almost a journal for myself.. so that someday I might look back and say this is really boring or this could be a book!
    Each of us has a different purpose for writing. Mine is to get my thoughts on paper. Think about what's yours. And BTW love the painting!

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  2. These are wonderful. I've heard the one about Christmas before... but the one that struck me today was the one with, "You know that your name is safe in their mouth". How many people do we know in our lives that we truly, truly trust with our names coming out of their mouth somewhere? How many people's names are safe coming out of my mouth? Hm.
    Also, your sentiments about the days when you think nobody is listening to you or responding... I wonder if all those years as a teacher and minister have conditioned you to the daily routine of speaking to a group and guiding others, and you still need that in your life. I sometimes wonder if I'll miss having a class of students to talk to every day, and being able to tell stories and get their responses. It's part of my nature, and maybe it's something I need in order to feel whole... Am I over exaggerating? Is that kind of how you feel?

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  3. Good Morning Ralph, today is better already! I am always here to check out your blog. It is my daily routine and you are always first. Then I check up on the people who left you comments. I want to know more about them too. I always discover more about me when I do this.

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  4. Dearest Ralph, I read your blog all the time and eagerly to see what new insights you chose to share. I don't always comment..because some days I just don't feel like saying anything..but I am reading!!! I love the quote about your name being safe in someone's mouth. I have never had that. I rarely hear my name said at all. It is such an important affirmation of your existence! To hear my name said in love and safety would be a real treat! That said I am a happy person who gets a lot done and spends much time in my art dreams as possible!!! Thanks for your blog..it is important to me and I am sure to others.

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  5. Yesterday a college friend called to tell me that her 24 year old son was dying of lung cancer. Helping someone cry is a very big task, and few are up for it. Good for the little boy in the lap of the sad widower. Thanks for the stories.

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  6. I put down my thoughts along with my art and only recently stated sharing it online. The comments received makes me "happy".But if I dont receive them, it is still fine because basically I am painting regularly to keep in touch with my art, which I had lost and the purpose is still served.But may be I will call it a day and stop sharing if it makes me unhappy.
    Your blog is one that I can relate to and many times you are writing what I am supposedly thinking!
    I loved the first one.. that probably will be me in 20 years:-)..continue sharing your thoughts, they are priceless.

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  7. Lovew is certainly all of the included. I agree with Billy, age 4. Your name is safe in the mouth of someone who loves you. Very perceptive child .. think about the way people say your name and tell me you don't agree.

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  8. Great post, Ralph. I don't always comment, but I'm here reading all the time.

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  9. Billy is a wise boy! Your blog touches many lives Ralph. It uplifts my day to pop by for a visit. I have many readers and most don't comment, but I know they are reading. We always develop small communities on our blogs. It should warm your heart to know that you touch many peoples hearts. When you decide to blog again, your friends will still be there.....me included. :)

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