HAPPY NEW YEAR

Wishing you all health and happiness in 2022!!!

Hope you'll let us share your stories and photos here at our residence "In a Nutshell." Email us at nutshellstories@gmail.com

The Gift Of Love...by Jim Terry

With all the hustle and bustle around you, I have one question for you…”Are you ready for Christmas?” I sure hope so because, as you know, it is HERE!

With all the ribbons and bows…the warmly lit tree…the stuffed turkey already placed in the oven early this morning to feed the crew…the aromatherapy that is created from the potpourri simmering on the stove providing a wave of aromatic hue…the visitors and family that were delayed and delayed again due to inclement weather to only be picked up at the airport late last night or slowly coast into your driveway in the wee hours of the morning...The fatigue...WHEW!!! We made it! Now what???

I read an article the other day that a friend shared which talked about love that I wanted to share with you. Why is it that, at least once a year, we all become a little nicer… a little kinder… a little more giving of ourselves?

In my opinion, it is because of one word…”LOVE!” The LOVE of others… the LOVE of giving… and of course the LOVE of receiving… And the love of receiving is not necessarily receiving a physical gift, (though for you last-minute shoppers, I still need my bag with a million dollars in it please 😉), but this can also be receiving a gift of joy, a gift of happiness or a gift of peace that simply comes from giving. The gift of LOVE!

Children are always the greatest example of what love towards others should be. Prejudices are not an innate quality in humans. They are learned! This is why kids love without boundaries or limitations. In the article mentioned above, a group of kids 4 to 8 years old were posed with the question, "What is love?" Their answers are listed below and are strikingly profound and insightful.

“'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 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 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

'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 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

'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.' "

So during this Christmas season, maybe just do something simple...be giving...be kind...share your french fries...smile when you're tired...take a moment to stop opening presents and listen...or maybe just help someone cry. It may just surprise you how much comfort, hope, and love that can be received simply by giving the gift of love!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Hope you'll let us share your stories and photos here at our residence "In a Nutshell." Email us at nutshellstories@gmail.com