Monday, February 9, 2015

Word of the Week - 49

My sister and I remain fans of the pun Valentines from our childhoods.
Word of the Week:  VALENTINE

With or without a traditional sweetheart, I am a fool for Valentine's Day and its message, "Send Love."

The trappings, of course, speak directly to my child and grown-up soul:  paper, red, ribbons, doilies, stickers, handmade cards and envelopes and hearts, miles and miles of hearts.

LOVE stamp by Robert Indiana, 1973.
I have come through the softening effects of time to know that love is the infrastructure of existence.  It is, in the ideal, who we are meant to be, what we are here to do.  While there are so many variations of its expression, I consider sharing to be the top choice.  It is the jolliest potluck we will ever attend, the one at which whatever we have and bring is enough.
Art by Corita Kent. ..
We get to be the chocolate covered marshmallow candy, squishable, thin of shell.  We have the option to reach much more than halfway, to reach ALL the way to connect with anyone, everyone. It is not about what we get but what we give.  Let us listen to what intuition confides and act upon it.  There is infinite space within our human hearts. 

We are asked to be patient with what we see as our shortcomings, asked to love ourselves out of the belief that we are lacking.  We are the raw materials through which change comes into the world, one kind or encouraging or inspiring word at a time.  We are a source of magic, of beauty, of wonder, part of nature, blessed with the gift of language and the power to heal.  We are, oh the impossible luck, the Valentines.
Cut paper heart by Elsa Mora.

6 comments:

J-Lin said...

WOW, that was quite the musing. Makes me think for sure.The images resinate very much with my soul. Thanks for making me think.

Kass said...

So well-put, especially the last paragraph. "We are the raw materials through which change comes into the world, one kind or encouraging or inspiring word at a time. We are a source of magic, of beauty, of wonder, part of nature, blessed with the gift of language and the power to heal. We are, oh the impossible luck, the Valentines." Yikes, that's beautiful!

Marylinn Kelly said...

J-Lin - Hello and thank you for commenting. The Love stamp and anything by Corita Kent speak clearly to me. xo

Marylinn Kelly said...

Kass - Thank you. Thank you. xo

Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMotte said...

since my very first experience of this tradition of cards and candy I have fallen for this special day and that began in my first year in Canada at age 8, 60 years ago!
Happy Valentines to you.

Marylinn Kelly said...

Heidrun - Happy Valentine's Day to you as well. I have always found it a happy day, not about having a husband, a partner, but about love all around, sent with what is sweet and pretty. Glad you discovered this, a favorite tradition of mine. xo