ELENA’S SIP
At Elina’s Sip, Elina da Friuli shares life from the perspective of the ordinary man who strives to be unique in each phase of life. US based writer Elena dal Friuli writes this monthly column for us and can be contacted at elena@thesipoflife.com and her writings can be viewed at http://www.helium.com/users/535823and http://thesipoflife.com/elenas-sip/
Have you ever asked yourself what love really is?
Growing up, there was a comic strip I used to read and it was entitled “Love Is.” Decades ago, a person really close to me, made the two little figurines of the cartoon out of clay; he painted them, and then wrote a short card to accompany them. That day, the gift was his way of telling me what love was for him. I don’t know what happened to the two figurines but the comic strip and the image of the gift have been neatly stored in my memory. Thinking of them, I decided to write a poem about what “Love Is.” We each have an idea of what “Love Is” and, perhaps, this poem will help you think more about it and, even more important, act upon it.
Love is
Making sure
You say “I am sorry!”
Love is
Holding your loved ones
Through thick and thin.
Love is
Remaining faithful
In all circumstances.
Love is
Asking about the day
And truly listening.
Love is
Working together
Side by side.
Love is
Forgetting faults and
Remembering strengths.
Love is
Showing appreciation
Even for the small things.
The list could go on
But I now close with
Love is
Something you need to show
Every day of your life.
My daughter works as an after school counselor. One day, one little girl pointed out to her that one of the boys seemed very sad and alone. The little girl asked her what they could do to make him smile. Then, without any prompting from my daughter, sheMy daughter works as an after school counselor. One day, one little girl pointed out to her that one of the boys seemed very sad and alone. The little girl asked her what they could do to make him smile. Then, without any prompting from my daughter, shesaid “WE COULD COLOR HIM A NOTE!” and so they did. Upon delivery of the notes, the young man slowly formed a smile until it reached from ear to ear and set off to play with the other kids.
A simple picture note
A young girl gave to him
Who was sitting all alone
And a frown became a grin.
A coin dropped in the expired meter
By a young passerby
Gave more time to the driver
An action only seen on high.
Rain started pouring down
As he was walking home
Someone gave him an umbrella
And smiling, he continued on.
Small acts don’t take much time
Some don’t take much thought
But they are sure to bring a smile
To those who otherwise would not.
Valentine’s Day is a day to show the ones around us – lovers, family, and friends – we love them with all of our hearts.
They are the ones we turn to when we have nowhere else to go. They are the ones who know our secrets, our struggles, and our aspirations. They are the ones who love us no matter what.
You love me
More than words can express
Please
Be My Valentine
You care for me
Through thick and thin
Please
Be My Valentine
You like me
For who I am
Please
Be My Valentine
I want you to be
Part of my life
So I can ask you each day to
Be My Valentine
Image Source: http://dryicons.com
From the moment we enter this world to the moment we exit, we all want to love and be loved. There are different types of love one may encounter in life, but only one is the lasting kind: unconditional love.
Unconditional love
Man’s best friend gives,
Even when we are selfish,
Tail wagging, he forgives.
Unconditional love
Golden friends extend,
After knowing all our faults
Time with us they spend.
Unconditional love,
As the child goes astray,
Is what a mother gives
Each hour of each day.
Unconditional love,
For all those who believe,
Christ the Savior gives
When unto Him we cleave.
Memories
Memories are an integral part of a person. As one lives, memories are created. Some we want to remember; some, we wish we might forget. Overall, memories are what make us who we are, for with those memories we remember our past, live our present, and build our future.
Memories
Engraved in our hearts and minds
Reminds us of days past
Of things we once lived
Memories
With their joy and sadness
Give us strengths and give us hope
For things yet to come
Memories
The ones we wish we could forget
Help us not repeat the errors
And help us forge a better us
Memories
The ones we want to remember
Bring us warmth and bring us joy
And draw a smile on our face
Let us embrace our memories
For without them
There is no past to teach us
There is no present to live
There is no future to behold
Image Source: http://smashmethod.deviantart.com
NOVEMBER 2010
We are all born into a family. Whether we stay with it or move on, whether the family stays intact or not, whether we want to claim it or not, we all belong to a family. Any time we create bonds of caring and nurturing, we have a family. This poem is dedicated to the wide variety of families existing, loving, and living in the world.
We each belong to a family
Whether large or small
Related by blood or by love
A family claims one and all.
Some have a mom, some have a dad
Some have both, some have none
But all unite us in a group
With ties that bind till the time is done.
Sometimes we call church our family
And sometimes it is the community we live in
Sometimes our family is our work
And sometimes it is our next of kin.
No matter the family we claim
It is the love and the caring we bear
That unites us in a bond that goes beyond
The simple words we share.
When we open our hearts to each other’s needs
And extend a helping hand
We claim membership in the greatest family of all
The one more numerous than the grains of sand.
OCTOBER 2010
If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, laughter can bring sunshine on a cloudy day; a smile can replace a frown, and a twinkle in the eye can appear where there was once a tear. Let’s make it a point to find something to laugh about each and every day of our lives.
I woke up with a frown
And wanted to stay in bed
But then looked at my cat
As after a ball she sped.
She slipped and she slid
Across the kitchen floor
But she never gave up
Not even after hitting the door.
The ball kept rolling
As she hit it with her paw
She was trying to stop it
She even tried with a claw.
She was unsuccessful
So she kept slipping and sliding
And turned my morning frown
By a laughter providing.