Love Deeply

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”
Lao Tzu
My daughter returns home from college in several days. While gone, our home was quiet and less frenetic. It smelled less of feminine mists and sprays, pizza and bourbon chicken. I didn't have to search for my own boots,make up or bras, which she frequently borrowed and adopted as her own. There weren't any half empty chocolate milk glasses lying about or candy wrappers that never seemed to find their way to the nearest garbage can ten feet away in any direction. Pounding music from Broadway to rap,pounding feet from dancing and jumping well past midnight, were no where to be heard.And now my muse, my Christina is about to return and I am certain her presence, her smell, her noise, her arguments will be heard loudly and clearly, "awakening" the quiet.... and I can't wait. She is lively and lovely. She brings chaos and clutter but it was greatly missed:)(for the most part.)
For Christmas, Christina gave to me a very beautiful gift...a book...The Tao Te Ching written by Chinese taoist Philosopher, founder of Taoism, Lao Tzu. I look at it daily. Translated by James Legge, this version, is particularly beautiful as the text is paired with breathtaking works of Chinese art.
Tia manages to select the perfect gifts for me because she is one of the few people who knows my mind and heart. And to think I helped to create this kid!
And so I read and have re- read Lao Tzu's quote about love and courage and know that loving my children,and others in my life, gives me limitless courage.I don't love easily but I do love deeply and loyally. And when I am feeling as though I am standing on a "slippery slope", I think of those people who I love the most and wonder if they realize the daily strength and inspiration they have given to me. Despite time,absence,distance, ...my love for them is never ending.
So welcome home Christina Autumn ...although there have been some major changes since your departure:)I'll fill you in when I see you:) So hats off to the end of peace and quiet! Love deeply and with courage! I love you every inch:)