True Love is Not Charity

"Love is not charity, cannot be given randomly."

Hwa Sung

This quote was left as a comment, in Chinese, after a blog I wrote a few days ago entitled, Smile.  One of my Chinese-American friends asked her Mother to translate the message, and this is the quote she wrote.  I thought it poignant and true and, so, felt inspired to write about it in today's blog.

Love is not charity.  It comes from a strong feeling, many believe, originates in our hearts.  I agree.  For, anyone or anything I've truly loved came from an inner feeling, an inside source, a flow and force of energy from my very soul.  I didn't have to "think" about it, I just felt love or loving energy eminating from deep inside.  It was as if my body knew it before my mind did.

When I fell in love with my husband (now departed,) when I found my first dog, Casey at the humane society, same for Suzy, my second dog, at the Sheltie Rescue and, now, for Sweetie Sue who, again, I discovered at the humane society.  Same for my cats, my Mother, sister, and other friends.  It's a deep-rooted feeling that comes from my heart.  And, as the quote says, it's not charity.

The other observation I have about love, is that it's best when reciprocated.  That is, when it flows naturally from the beloved.  Although, it's not conditional and need not depend whether the object of one's affections loves them back, or to the same degree.  And randomness of birth doesn't guarantee love between relations, either, sad to say. I have natural love for my cats, dogs, sister and Mother.  It's there & is reciprocated without words, gifts, letters or billboards. 
It's just there, and we all know and feel it.  Doesn't need to be shouted from the rooftops or cast in stone.  It flows and exists. That's all we need to feel, and we do.

If one is lucky enough to have love in one's life, whether by loving or feeling loved, one might smile and say a prayer of thanks every day.  I know I do.