Keep Love

"Keep love in your heart.

A life without it is like a sunless garden 

where the flowers are dead.

The consciousness of loving and 

being loved brings a warmth and richness 

to life that nothing else can bring."

Oscar Wilde

The Boy's Cup

In a pocket of his knapsack he'd found a last half packet of cocoa and he fixed it for the boy and then poured his own cup with hot water and sat blowing at the rim.

You promised not to do that, the boy said.

What?

You know what, Papa.

He poured the hot water back into the pan and took the boy's cup and poured some of the cocoa into his own and then handed it back.

I have to watch you all the time, the boy said.

Cormac McCarthy
The Road


S E L F L E S N E S S 

Think Deeply, Speak Gently

"Think deeply, speak gently, love much, laugh often, work hard, give freely, pay promptly, pray honestly, be kind." 

Wanda Stocks 

Valentine Greetings

Hear me, O Lord, for they lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of they tender mercies. 

Psalm 69:16

All Embracing Love

You must love all that God has created, both his entire world and each tiny little sand grain of it, then your mind will open itself to all embracing love.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Tea for Two

 

Oh honey
Picture me upon your knee,
With tea for two and two for tea,
Just me for you and you for me, alone!
Nobody near us, to see us or hear us,
No friends or relations
on weekend vacations
We won't have it known, dear,
That we own a telephone, dear.

Day will break and I'm gonna wake
and start to bake a sugar cake
for you to take for all the boys to see.
We will raise a family,
a boy for you , and a girl for me,
Can't you see how happy we will be.

(Picture you upon my knee)
(tea for two and two for tea)
(me for you and you for me, alone!)
(Nobody near us, to see us or hear us,)
(No friends or relations on weekend vacations)
(We won't have it known, dear,)
(That we own a telephone,)
(dear.)

Day will break and I'm gonna wake
and start to bake a sugar cake
for you to take for all the boys to see.
We will raise a family,
a boy for you, and a girl for me,
Oh can't you see how happy we will be.
(How happy we will be)


~ Doris Day ~


Photo: tea towel from my kitchen with just the right amount of shabby chic wear

Be Gentle, Share Caring

"Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children
of chance and none can say why some fields will blossom while others
lay brown beneath the August sun. Care for those around you. Look past
your differences. Their dreams are no less than yours, their choices
no more easily made. And give, give in any way you can, of whatever
you posses. To give is to love. To withhold is to wither. Care less
for your harvest than for how it is shared and your life will have
meaning and your heart will have peace."

~Kent Nerburn~

 Our world is full of many opportunities to share.  Needs are great, as natural and man-made disasters are wreaking havoc on the lives of many.  I encourage you to consider sharing gentleness and care with those less fortunate.  Here are a few legitimate organizations that are accepting donations that will be used responsibly in helping meet the needs of victims in disaster areas.

ADRA
Samaritan's Purse
American Red Cross

For the Joy

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth and Friend above,
Pleasures pure and undefiled,
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our grateful song of praise. 

Composer: Conrad Kocher, 1838

How Do I Love Thee?

"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need; by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,--I love thee with the breath.
Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death."

Elizabeth Barrett Browning