Chris Shana

Recently I visited an 'old' friend. She looked very glamorous in her pink track suit doing her housework. She carefully folded closed and placed them in the perfect place, she did the same with her linen, finding there home in the tidiest linen cupboard you could imagine.Next she went about putting on the jug and heating up home made scones. The tea was poured into perfect little 'lady' cups, you know the ones with delicate flowers on them and beautiful trim. Then the scones where topped with as much love as she could find (butter, jam and cream). It was all so lovely. During all this the conversation between us flowed easily, we solved the problems of the world and I felt heard, she really listened to all I had to say.
This beautiful friend of mine is 87 years young. She has loved her husband and her family for most of that time. Her husband has often said to me that she took care of him for 40 years - while he worked - now it is his turn to take care of her. And that he did, he made the tea, her helped around the house, he cooked and cleanded too, up until a short time ago when he could no longer do it. You see he is having some health challenges and once again, she is taking care of him.
But the thing is, and the reason I am sharing all of this is because, she does it all with love. I don't mean the kind of love that feels obligated or resentful. These two beautiful souls love each other every day.
Some one once told me that love is a verb, a doing word. And when you love someone, you should love them everyday.
That is exactly what these two people do. I am sure there have been tough times for them, and things have not always been perfect, but each day they love each other. With their actions, the way they speak to each other and about each other, in the way they treat each other, in their tenderness and joy, it is simply love.
It is such a beautiful example of love in action, in a world where it is easier to walk a way, than make it work.
That is what it really is isn't it... love in motion, love in action, love expressed in the most simpliest form. From a cup ot tea, to a gentle touch, from the knowing glance, to a shared silence. It is the simplest things that are most cherished and the smallest things that mean the most.

I have just celebrate 7 years with my love. I hope and pray with all my heart, that when we near the end of our journey, that we can both turn around and say, I loved, and I was loved. I want to say thank you to my beautiful partner for the love so far, you really are a true blessing in my life and inspire me every day to be the person you see within me. I love you.

And now I ask you, who are you loving. I don't believe it is enough just to say the words or just assume because you are still in the relationship it is love. Put your love into motion, do the things that love would do, be love. Not only will you feel great for being able to do this, but the love that comes back to you will be 10 fold.

Here is a little challenge for you, as you go through your day, say the words "I love you" to everyone you meet. Now if you are very brave you can say it out loud, it could be in a funny, " you are crazy, I love you" sort of way or you could just say it quietly in your heart. It is amazing the way your day can turn around and how the energy around you changes when you do this. It is fun and you will feel great. I would love to hear how you go.


from my soul to yours
with love

Chris Shana
P.S. I love you