Love is.....

As a new bride, one woman moved into the small home on her husband's ranch in the mountains. She put a shoe box on a shelf in her closet and asked her husband never to touch it. 

For 50 years he left the box alone, until his life partner was old and dying. One day when he was putting their affairs in order, he found the box again and thought it might hold something important. 

Opening it, he discovered two doilies and $82,500 in cash. He took the box to her and asked about the contents. 

"My mother gave me that box the day we married," she explained. "She told me to make a doily to help ease my frustrations every time I got mad at you." 

Her husband was touched that in 50 years she'd only been upset enough to make two doilies. "What about the $82,500?" he asked. 

She explained, "Oh, well that's the money I've made selling the doilies." 

Making doilies might take your mind off the problem, but nothing will change if you don't address it. The path from conflict to love is not by way of arts and crafts, it is through the gates of conversation and understanding. 

You've heard it said: "Love is patient and kind." Patient and kind, yes, but love is also understanding. Maybe that's what makes it so lovely.