WHAT'S LOVE?

A little boy was born and he made his parents proud.  The two of them had finally become a complete family.  He laughed and giggled and they played with him ,  and life was good.

On his fourth birthday they had him a birthday party with all his friends.  The day was wonderful.  A few days later his mother got the news from across the seas in a foriengn land,  that his Daddy would be coming home in three days.

  She did not decorate with pretty ribbons,  and stream banners of " WELCOME HOME " as she had in previous times.  She did not invite all of his friends to welcome him home...but they were all there.  She did not wear that beautiful print dress that blew softly in the wind,  as she had planned.  She did not go excitely into her son's room to tell him the good news that daddy was coming home.

Today her son would see his father for the last time.  Today she would kiss him on the cheeks for the last time.  Today his friends would sit in silence and remember the times that they had shared with him for the last time.

Many years passed and the boy and his Mama lived on thier own.  She worked hard to give him all the things he needed.  There were many things he did not have...but love wasn't one of them.  He came to his Mama one day and he asked her to tell him something that he needed to know for a class at school.  Mama he asked "  WHAT IS LOVE ? "  His Mama hesitated for a moment and said " Son,  love is when two people find out that thier world would be so much better with the other person in it.  Love is a feeling you have  that you can't explain.  All you know is that it makes you feel complete.  He hesitated a moment and in reply said,  " Mama,  like when I was born and you told me your life was complete?"   " Yes son,  she replied...that is a kind of love that is beyond explaination."

The next day he came home from school and left his bookbag on the counter.  Later as his Mama picked it up a piece of paper fell out.  She did not mean to look but the Title caught her eye.  As she read the piece of paper she began to cry.  The heading on the paper read:  WHAT IS LOVE? and it said:

I KNOW WHAT LOVE IS.

 Love is what my Daddy felt when he went off to war for our country.  He never explained it to me because I was too little but my Mama did and she didn't even know it, she said Love is when two people find out that the world is better with the other person in it .  I believe that love is when you make a difference in the  lives of others because it makes thier world a better place. Daddy loved his country so much he was willing to die for it's cause.

My mama and me missed Daddy when he was laid to rest.  My Mama then became TWO parents,  and although life was hard she never complained.  She tried to see to it that my life was as good as it possibly could be.

 I know about a "MAMA'S LOVE.  It is when someone forgets that they are hungry,  when there is only enough food for ONE.  It is when someone sits by your bed when you're sick,  even though they have had a long, tiring day.  It is when someone sits down with you and asks you about your day without making you feel as though you are troubling them.  It is when someone kisses your forehead with a smile on thier face as if they still see you as 5 years old.

Today I met someone and I feel as though she makes  my world a better place.  She knows how much I love my country and that I will soon leave to make a difference in the lives of others,  and that I am willing to die for that cause.

Today I am writing this in case I do not make it back home to my mother.  I wanted her to know that I KNOW WHAT LOVE IS :

It is  what this young boy feels each time he remembers his childhood.  When the wind blows softly,  I can feel Mama's kiss on my cheek. I know Mama all those times when you went without something to eat so that you could feed this growing boy,  and I thank you.  I know that there were times when you had better things to do than to listen to the tales of a child about his day,  But I learned a lot from you.  I know that when you spent those nights by my bedside when I was sick...that you were praying,  well Mama now  I will be praying for you.  I will pray that God will comfort you in your time of need,  when I am not there to hold you. 

 I KNOW WHAT LOVE IS:

It is this unexplainable pain I feel in my heart, everytime I close my eyes and see your face.  Because I am 5 years old again,  but now I have no need to ask  WHAT'S LOVE...becuase I already know.

 I can't recall all the things you thought I had to do without...I'm too busy remembering that one special thing you made sure I didn't live without.........

                               LOVE

                                                                                        c@

                                                                                      PPD

                                                                                       8/23/07