Listen to Their Definitions of Love

An Internet article reports that 4 to 8 year-olds say love means:

• When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.
• 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.
• Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.

I like these definitions. They are honest and you can see how these children sense the love in these moments. I thought I’d try to add a few images to the list. I’m not 4 to 8 years old, in fact I’m closer to 48 than I am to 4 or 8 so my answers may not be nearly as cute as a result.

• Love is when your husband gets up every morning at 4:30 a.m. with your elderly dog to take her outside.
• Love is doing the same bedtime ritual with your child every night – even when he has become a teenager.
• Love is your teenage son coming to get you for that ritual if you’re taking too long getting to his room.
• Love is a child who always wants to help; to help clean, cook, rake leaves, shovel snow, wash the car, you name it, just to be with you.
• Love is a brother telling his sister that her new eye glasses look good.
• Love is a hug, a smile, a nod, a wink, or any kind, yet silent, gesture of caring or understanding.
• Love is listening. Really listening. Then not saying “I told you so.”
• Love is that ache you feel inside when another is sad or in pain.
• Love is stopping to help a stray or lost dog find its way home.
• Love is letting your child crawl into bed with you after a nightmare even though you know she will kick you the rest of the night.

What would you add to these definitions?