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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Love is...

So complex. Nothing touches the human heart more than the notion of perfect love, and really I believe it is one of our greatest life quests. Isn't that why every movie has it as a central plot, and every book I read tries to define it. Most of us grow up looking for it first in our parents and siblings and then through friendship, intimacy, defining our faith, and then with our own children. The cycle goes on and on. Some of the most recent examples of love I've enjoyed reading about in books.

In The Wednesday Sisters friendship is the expression of love that nurtured a belief in self. Leaning on each other, taking turns being strong, stepping in to fill the gaps where family should have been responsible.


In The Help I read about love through justice. Doing what is right to help people on this Earth with no voice. It often puts us outside our comfort zone. It might require us to turn away from beliefs passed down to us by our culture or our families. We might find that a precious few share our convictions, or are willing to do anything about the injustice they perceive.


Hotel On The Corner Of Bitter And Sweet reminded me of the connection that many cultures share requiring obedience as the ultimate symbol of love. In this story obedience was taken to the extreme and was incredibly oppressive. I think most people cringe at the notion of obedience. We turn from it the moment we are born. Human beings want to wander through life at their own whim, making their own decisions, without any consequences. We want love without sacrifice. At the root of obedience is trust. That's a hard thing for a lot of people to do. To me, without obedience the world becomes shades of gray with no real right and wrong. It devalues life experience, the wisdom of those that have traveled the road before us, and leads to a life where we become our own god. Obedience isn't limiting, it is loving and unselfish and wise.


Snowflower And The Secret Fan painted a picture of "Mother love". Life is hard, and so they loved their daughters by teaching them to endure through hardship. Although I couldn't disagree more with this being their only way to express love. It struck me, as I read the book, that I often error on the side of gentleness and compassion. I also want to be the mother that isn't afraid to let my children experience some of the hard edges of life, and be consistent with enforcing responsibility and duty even when it is difficult for both of us. It also painted a beautiful and often painful picture of love through loyalty, even when undeserved.


Love is certainly a rich topic. I wonder what thoughts about love this post brings up for you?

Have a wonderful day...Holly

30 comments:

I Wonder Wye said...

SF and the SF and The Help are great reads...so many wonderful books with love central to the plot I could hardly begin.......thanks for listing a few that have touched you....

Bibi @ Bibi's Culinary Journey said...

I need to put some of these on my do read list. They sound so inspirational and uplifting.

carissajade said...

Ahhh I really want to read these now!!Ahh especially HOtel on the Corner of Bittersweet. We DO always want to love without consequence...

Lothiriel said...

This post makes me think about the different loves I feel towards my mother and sibblings, my husband, and now my daughter. It's amazing at the things one can do for the ones they love.

Holly Lefevre said...

You have such an amazing talents for expressing yourself and conveying these really wonderful messages...(especially thought provoking since I just watched the vlog before this about fireman poles and the jacuzzi). I guess my thought on love, i that it isn't always easy or right, but it seems to endure, to carry on. I t is something that can make us feel such happiness and yet such sadness. It makes the world go around too.

Willoughby said...

This was a beautifully written post. It made me think about our endless capacity to love. There is always enough love for another child, friend, and family member. We never tire of it or run out of it. Truly amazing.

Corrie Howe said...

I love the fact that you love to read. I love to read too. I'm still trying to find the balance in my life having started back to work from my home. But I'm confident it will come.

Anonymous said...

i am actually going to visit my girlfriends this weekend...we haven't seen each other in two years. i love and miss them more than anything right now!

Ed said...

These type of posts always remind me of those Inspirational posters you see hanging in lobbies and waiting rooms.

ScoMan said...

I was reading the post and not really sure what I was thinking, and then I saw the pictures of the dogs and I thought..

"That is true love right there"

On a TV show recently someone was asked "Think he's just done the worst possible thing he could do to you. Would you still love him?"

And I thought maybe that's what love is, being able to forgive no matter what.

But what do I know? Love makes me uncomfortable.

pve design said...

Each day - I take a little time to think about love and to give gratitude for all the love around me.
I have often thought of another blog, just about LUV!
Wonderful reads!

pve design

Jenn Erickson said...

I haven't read any of these books, but am putting them on my book list right away. I've been trying to get a book list going on my FB fan page, and am going to include a link to your post. I'm currently reading "Eat, Pray, Love" which delves into love on several planes ~ marriage, self, God. It fits in well with your list of titles and beautifully tied-in descriptions.

Stephanie said...

I am in the midst of reading The Help and I am really enjoying it. Thanks for sharing the other reviews, sounds like some good ones that I will have to check out.

Love is...knowing when to tell your children NO and being okay with doing it.
Love is...sharing a Klondike bar with my sweetie.
Love is...Putting the cute purse you love back on the shelf so your daughter can get those adorable shoes.
Love is...Sitting in the sweltering summer heat for 11 hours so your son and his friends can enjoy ALL of OzzFest.
Love is...packing your husband's lunch.
Love is..NOT The Bachelor.

Anonymous said...

I couldn't agree more with you on the relationship between obedience and love. So many times we get wrapped up in what 'feels' right and not what 'is' right!!!

Another excellent article!!!

-Alisa Hope

Tara Bass said...

Great post, a real thought provoking one. Thanks. For me, I know the love I have in my heart for my husband, my kids, my family, my girlfriends and my life. However, sometimes I find I need to take extra steps to let those important people in on the secret.

Sue said...

I haven't read any of the books you mentioned, so I can't comment on them. What I thought of when I read this was how blessed I am to have grown up with love all around me, to marry a man who still loves me after 35 years and to have children who aren't afraid to tell us they love us. Some people never have any of that and it seems to be that it would be like trying to live without air to breathe.


Sue

Jackie said...

Reading your post made me think of the love I feel for my son. Before I had him, someone told me "you think you love your husband, wait until you have your son", and they were right. I love my husband, my family, and friends, but the love I feel for my son is truly amazing.

Just A Normal Mom said...

Love can certainly be defined a lot of different ways. That was a great post. I will honestly say, that I go through waves of reading - where I gobble up books like crazy, then back off for a while. I've been feeling another wave coming on, and I just might check some of these out!
***Ally

Tracie said...

This reminds me of the scene from Moulin Rouge where they are singing a medley of love songs to each other. :)

ballast photography said...

Wow, you have been doing a lot of reading lately! I like to read in "themes," too, but my current one is Italy, not love...although I agree with you completely that love is pretty much the core plot of every story. Good post.

Jennifer Juniper said...

It's true, I can find a love story no matter what the subject of the book is! I just read Pope Joan and though it was about her inward struggle for freedom without the constraints of being labeled female...I kept reading to get to the next small bit of the love story! I love love!

mamma b said...

My girlfriends and I started reading Wednesday Sisters. Then we did wed. playdates or just got together to be empowered. Love is grande!!

Tiz said...

Hi Holly,

Jesus is Love and Love is Jesus...expressed in so many ways!!! You express Love to me when you leave a comment on Prayerfully Yours...you encourage me.. Thanks.

Because of His Grace,
Tiz

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

what a great post.....

and the 'hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet'....that's one i'll always remember

have a great weekend....my friend

kary

Jamie Ford said...

Great post. Thanks for all the book love. :)

Best,

Jamie

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

I've experiences so many different types of love in my life...as a daughter, sister, soul mate, friend and now on a whole other level as a mother...I'm a better person because of all my loves!

elvira pajarola said...

Ciao mia cara amica Holly....wonderful post....Congratulations!!!!!!
(It's midnight here in tuscany, I've got little eyes but your post did wake me up...!)

have a very happy sunday; full of love !!!!!!!!!!
un abbraccio elvira

Cameron said...

Love is something that can get you through ANYTHING. great post!
Happy to be back on blog land and reading your stuff!!!
Cheers,
Cameron
www.conquerthemonkey.com

j said...

"I also want to be the mother that isn't afraid to let my children experience some of the hard edges of life"... beautifully said.

This was a FABULOUS post on love!

Dr. Patrice Smith said...

I love this piece. Come on over to my place and snag the little piece of love I have tucked away for you :)